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OF  THE 
AT 

PRINCETON,   N.  J. 

X>  O  ^T  _A- T*  I  C*  ^-       OS" 

SAMUEL    AGNEW, 

OF     PHILADELPHIA.     PA. 


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Case,     Division       .... 

book,       r?lfi&  f 


OF   THE 

GENERAL  AND  PARTICULAR  CAUSES 

WHICH   HAVE   PRODUCED   THE   LATE 

DISORDERS  AND  DIVISION'S 

IN    THE 

YEARLY  MEETING  OF  FRIENDS, 

HELD    IN   PHILADELPHIA: 

WITH  INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS  ON   THE  STATE   OF   THE 

PRIMITIVE  CHURCHES, 

their  gradual  declension,  and  subsequent 

advancement  in  reformation,  to  the  rise  of  the 

SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS. 


BY  JAMES  COCKBURN. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED   FOR  THE   AUTHOR,  BY  PHILIP  PRICE,   JR.,  AND  SOLD 
BY   JOHN  TOWNSEND,  NO.  346  MARKET   STREET. 

1829, 


EASTERN  DISTRICT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA,™  witj 

*******      BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  Fifth  day 
|  L.  S.g  of  February,  in  the  fifty  third  year  of  the  Indepen- 
*******   deoce  of  the  United  States  of  America,  A.  D.  1829, 
James  Cockburn,  of  the  said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this 
Office  the  Title  of  a  Book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  Au- 
thor, in  the  words  following',  to  wit: 

"  A  Review  of  the  General  and  Particular  causes  which  have 
produced  the  late  Disorders  and  Divisions  in  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Friends,  held  in  Philadelphia,  with  Introductory  Remarks 
on  the  State  of  the  Primitive  Churches,  their  gradual  Declen- 
sion, and  subsequen-t  Advancement  in  Reformation,  to  the  rise 
of  the  society  of  Friends,  By  James  Cockburn." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
intitled,  "An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  secur- 
ing the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and 
proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned." 
And  also  to  the  Act,  entitled,  "  An  Act  supplementary  to  an 
Act,  entitled  '  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by 
£eci  ring  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors 
and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  men- 
tioned,' and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  design- 
ing, engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 
D.  CALDWELL,  Clerk  of  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE. 

The  late  disorders  that  have  taken  place  within  the  limits  of 
the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  Philadelphia,  deeply 
affected  the  writer  of  this  Review.  In  early  life  he  was  con- 
vinced of  the  fundamental  principle  professed  by  Friends,  pre- 
vious to  much  knowledge  respecting  the  practical  testimonies 
of  the  society.  Being  born  in  Scotland  he  was  educated  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  established  church  of  that  country.  Arriv- 
ing in  Philadelphia  in  the  Spring  of  1801 ,  his  former  impressions 
had  prepared  him  readily  to  unite  with  the  practical  habits  of 
Friends,  and  to  join  in  christian  communion  with  them.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  has  taken  a  feeling  interest  in  the  affairs  o' 
the  society,  and  could  not  remain  indifferent  to  the  progress  of 
those  measures  and  proceedings,  the  development  of  which  has 
produced  so  much  painful  exercise  and  trial  to  Friends  of  this 
Yearly  Meeting. 

Had  the  unpleasant  occurrences  which  have  taken  place, 
remained  as  a  private  or  partial  misunderstanding  in  the  form 
of  a  domestic  difference,  it  would  have  been  improper  and  un- 
necessary, to  present  the  circumstances  to  public  attention. 
The  orthodox  brethren,  however,  have  dismissed  all  delicacy 
on  this  subject  by  a  public  "Declaration,"*  in  which  they 
assign  as  the  cause  of  their  disunion  from  the  principal  part  of 

*  Declaration,  &c.  adopted  by  the  orthodox  Yearly  MeetiDg 
in  Fourth  month,  1828. 


IV 


this  Yearly  Meeting,  "  an  open  denial  of  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  the  christian  religion,  as  they  are  laid  down  by  our 
blessed  Redeemer  and  his  apostles,  in  the  Holy  Scriptures." 
Having  made  this  grievous  charge,  they  further  declare,  "  we 
cannot  unite  with  them  in  church  fellowship,  nor  own  them  to 
be  of  our  communion." 

The  writer  is  aware  that  a  charge  does  not  constitute  either 
fact  or  guilt  in  relation  to  the  accused ;  but  as  the  orthodox  De- 
claration embracing  the  charge  quoted,  appears  to  be  of  an 
imposing  and  deceptive  character,  and  as  great  pains  have 
been  taken  to  introduce  it  to  the  particular  attention  of  other 
religious  professors,  with  a  design  to  produce  an  impression 
thafcthe  greater  part  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in 
Philadelphia  have  changed  their  religious  views,  it  seems  due  to 
truth,  and  to  the  christian  community,  as  well  as  to  the  society 
of  Friends,  to  exhibit  a  correct  outline  of  transactions  as  they 
took  place. 

In  feeling  the  weight  of  religious  obligation  to  exhibit  a 
review  of  those  occurrences  which  fell  under  the  particular 
notice  of  the  writer,  (and  to  such  the  work  is  principally  confin- 
ed,) his  mind  was  drawn  into  tender  sympathy  with  innocent 
and  upright  Friends  who  have  been  imposed  upon  by  specious 
representations,  and  constructed  charges,  destitute  of  solid 
foundation,  tending  to  retain  them  in  bondage  to  that  mistrust 
and  indecision  of  mind  which  greatly  interrupts  their  usefulness 
and  comfort. 

Although  the  writer  could  not  sacrifice  truth  to  the  respect 
which  he  wishes  to  cherish  towards  the  orthodox  brethren,  he 
has  endeavoured  to  avoid  personal  reflection,  and  has  not  men- 
tioned even  all  the  names  of  those  which  have  already  been 
made  public  in  connexion  with  their  agency  in  particular  cases. 
The  object  has  not  been  to  criminate  and  censure  individuals 
but  to  exhibit  the  general  causes  of  declension  in  the  society  of 
Friends,  and  to  Bhow  that  the  particular  cause*  of  the  late  dia- 


orders,  hare  been  produced  by  the  same  thirst  of  power  which 
acting  on  the  mind  of  man,  has  proved  in  every  age  a  source  of 
disorder  both  in  religious  and  civil  society.  Animated  with  a 
fervent  desire  to  rest  on  the  basis  of  correct  principles,  and  ap- 
preciate the  agency  of  christian  virtue,  the  writer  turned  his 
attention  from  immediate  exciting  causes,  and  looked  back  to 
the  origin  and  progress,  the  declension  and  partial  reformations 
of  the  christian  churches.  He  viewed  with  renewed  interest 
the  rise  and  increase  of  the  society  of  Friends,  and  in  discerning 
the  efficacy  of  their  peculiar  principle,  and  the  usefulness  of 
its  practical  influence,  he  was  not  insensible  to  the  manifesta- 
tion and  progress  of  those  general  causes  of  declension  in  this 
society  which  have  appeared  in  all  others  whose  history  has 
been  developed,  and  which,  when  not  timely  counteracted,  have 
uniformly  produced  the  same  results. 

As  the  "  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit,"  so  every  class  of  actions 
bears  evidence  of  the  spirit  which  produceth  them.  The  dis- 
interested reader  of  this  Review  will  discriminate,  according 
to  his  own  judgment,  and  the  nature  of  the  evidence  connected 
with  the  record  of  circumstantial  facts.  It  is  hoped  the  class 
of  Friends  called  orthodox,  in  reviewing  an  outline  of  their 
proceedings  will  closely  examine  the  spring  of  their  actions,  as 
well  as  the  temper  and  disposition  which  have  carried  them  into 
effect,  and  cease  to  increase  the  injury  they  have  inflicted  on 
the  society  by  traducing  and  oppressing  their  brethen.  It  is 
moreover  earnestly  recommended  to  Friends,  who  may  have 
been  tried  and  afflicted  by  the  desolations  which  a  selfish  spirit 
has  brought  upon  the  society,  to  recur  to  the  sacred  enclosure, 
limited  and  defended  by  truth,  where  the  weary  rest  at  noon, 
^nd  where  the  spring  of  divine  consolation  and  christian  support 
will  be  experienced,  uniting  in  an  increasing  qualification  to 
sustain  the  testimonies  of  practical  righteousness. 

The  term  orthodox,  as  applied  in  this  work  to  that  class  of 
Friends  whose  recent  proceedings  have  caused  so  much  difii- 


VI 


eulty  in  the  society  on  this  continent,  is  used  only  to  distin 
guish  the  parity,  and  in  no  respect  as  a  concession  that  the  indi- 
viduals composing  it  are  more  correct  in  their  principles  or 
practice,  than  the  great  majority  of  Friends  whom  they  have 
charged  as  being  unsound,  and  attempted  to  disown.  This 
attempt,  however,  has  only  resulted  in  their  own  exclusion 
from  the  body,  as  Friends  continue  in  the  exercise  of  the 
customary  relations  of  the  society,  and  in  the  maintenance  of 
those  principles  which  they  have  always  professed  as  a  people. 
The  application  of  the  term  orthodox  to  a  party  in  the  society 
of  Friends,  appears  to  have  arisen  from  the  similarity  of  their 
assumptions  and  measures  with  those  of  the  various  sects  who, 
at  different  periods  of  the  church,  have  laid  claim  to  this  dis- 
tinction, and  on  this  ground  have  proscribed  and  persecuted 
others  who  hare  differed  from  them  in  opinion. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  author  alone  is  answerable  for 
the  sentiments  and  views  exhibited  in  the  progress  of  this  re- 
view. They  are  the  fruits  of  a  feeling  conviction  made  in  his 
own  mind,  and  are  submitted  to  public  attention,  as  a  tribute  to 
the  support  of  those  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
which  have  influenced  him  through  life,  and  which  he  hopes  to 
cherish  to  its  close. 
Philadelphia,  2d  Mo.  6th,  1829. 

■ 


tii 
CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION.  Page. 

Explication  of  Practical  Christian  Principles.  .         .       1 

CHAPTER  I. 

State  of  the  Primitive  Churches,  and  their  Declension 
from  Original  Purity  into  Ecclesiastical  Establishments.       5 

CHAPTER  II. 
Origin  of  the  Orthodox  Creed,  and  gradual  advancement 
of  the  Protestant  Reformation.     .         .         .         .         .13 

CHAPTER  III. 
Rise  of  the  society  of  Friends,  their  peculiar   principles 
leading  unto  peculiar  Testimonies.       .         .        .         .21 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Christian  Discipline  of  Friends  gradually  established, 
and  the  usefulness  of  the  Society  exhibited.  .        .31 

CHAPTER  V. 
Review  of  the  general  causes  of  Declension  in  the  society 
of  Friends,  the  Settlement  of  the  society  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  subsequent  Declension.         .         .         .         .         .39 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Causes  of  the  late  disorders  in  the  society  of  Friends, 
within  the  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia.  .     53 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Origin  and  duties  of  Elders  in  the  society  of  Friends- 
Orthodox  party  formed,  and  endeavour  to  introduce  a 
Creed  into  the  society.  ......     81 

CHAPTER  VIII, 

Orthodox  party  pursuing  measures  to  separate  themselves 
from  the  society  of  Friends — Uncommon  occurrences  in 
the  Western  Meeting.        .        .        .        .        .         .91 


YUl 


CHAPTER  IX.  Page- 

Causes  of  Division  in  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting'. .      109 

CHAPTER  X. 

Review  of  disciplinary  principle  of  Friends,  with  remarks 
on  the  alleged  laying  down  of  Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting  by  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting.         .         .133 

CHAPTER  XL 
Inconsistent  proceedings  in  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings.    .  169 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Dividing  causes  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in 
Philadelphia,  in  the  Fourth  month,  1827.     .         .         .187 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Occurrences  in  connexion  with  the  general  meeting  of 
Friends  held  by  adjournments,  at  Green  street  Meeting- 
house, in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  Fourth  and 
Fifth  days  of  the  Sixth  month,  1827,  pursuant  to  an 
adjournment  on  the  21st  of  Fourth  month  previous.      .  206 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Extra  session  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  held  in 
Philadelphia,  in  the  10th  month,  1827,  according  to  the 
recommendation  of  the  General  Conference  held  on  the 
the  4th  and  5th  of  the  Sixth  month.         .         .         .         .222 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  Philadelphia  in  the  4th 
month,  1828.         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .228 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Cases  resulting   from  the  re-organization  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  Philadelphia.       .         .        .  250 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Conclusion — Embracing  a  Condensed  Summary  of  the 
whoie 271 


INTRODUCTION. 

EXPLICATION   OF   PRACTICAL  CHRISTIAN   PRIN- 
CIPLES. 

The  great  and  leading  object  of  the  Gospel  or 
New  Testament  dispensation,  is  to  preserve  man 
in  or  restore  him  to  that  state,  in  which  he  was 
created,  and  in  which  the  energies  of  his  being 
may  be  brought  into  proper  action,  and  approxi- 
mate  to  the  complete  development  of  that  capa- 
city wherein  true  and  lasting  good  is  enjoyed. 
Hence,  spiritual  regeneration  of  heart  was  uni- 
formly inculcated,  and  particularly  insisted  upon 
by  Jesus  Christ;  and  all  who  have  experienced 
restoration  from  the  dominion  of  selfish  nature, 
and  have  been  brought  into  the  enjoyment  of 
goodness  and  truth,  have  borne  testimony  to  the 
redeeming  power  of  the  spirit  of  Christ.  •  Noth- 
ing short  of  the  power  and  virtue  of  the  Divine 
spirit,  can  change  the  heart  of  man,  fallen  under 
the  influence  and  direction  of  the  sensual  nature. 
As  is  the  fountain,  so  will  be  the  stream.     If 

the  intellectual  powers  of  the  human  mind  be 

1 


effectually  drawn  under  the  controul  of  the  sen- 
sual nature,  the  desires,  pursuits,  and  actions  will 
be  of  the  same  kind.  But  if  the  mind  yields  to 
the  reception  and  operation  of  redeeming  power 
and  virtue,  the  gospel  spirit  will  produce  gospel 
fruits.  The  pure  morality  of  the  gospel  spirit, 
which  is  so  congenial  with  the  best  interests  and 
highest  enjoyment  of  humanity,  flows  as  the  native 
stream  from  regeneration  of  heart,  or  the  restora- 
tion of  the  human  mind  under  the  practical  in- 
fluence and  direction  of  the  Divine  spirit. 

Doing  to  others  as  we  would  they  should  do 
unto  us,  is  the  golden  rule  of  Christian  morality. 
This  rule  is  deeply  grounded  in  the  nature  of 
things,  forever  resting  on  the  principle  of  immu- 
table justice.  But  its  foundation  is  not  more 
permanent,  than  the  superstructure  in  effect  is 
beautiful  and  beneficial.  Had  this  rule  uniformly 
governed  men  in  their  actions  one  to  another, 
how  much  crime  and  unhappiness  might  have 
been  prevented  in  every  age  of  the  world!  How 
greatly  might  the  means  of  comfort  and  enjoy- 
ment have  been  diffused  throughout  every  class 
of  menuin  their  different  allotments  in  life. 

In  addition  to  the  principle  of  operative  jus- 
tice, or  pure  practical  morality,  the  New  Testa- 
ment law-giver,  enjoined  and  exemplified  a  full 
display  of  that  righteousness  which  is  congenial 


with  the  proper  development  of  the  human  cha- 
racter, unfolding  itself  under  those  benign  influ- 
ences which  flow  from  the  fountain  of  truth,  He 
distinctly  enjoined  the  extension  of  love  to  ene- 
mies, and  good  will  to  those  who  might  hate  or 
persecute  us;  or  in  other  words,  showed  the  pos- 
sibility of  the  human  mind  being  so  intimately 
united  with  the  fountain  of  goodness  and  truth, 
as  not  to  be  moved  from  it  by  any  external  occur- 
rence; but  through  all  trials,  bringing  forth  the 
native  fruits  of  the  Divine  Spirit — peace,  love, 
and  good  will  to  all  men,  however  they  might 
deviate  from  truth  and  justice.  This  injunction 
was  fulfilled  by  many  of  the  followers  of  Jesus 
Christ,  both  in  primitive  and  succeeding  times; 
who  for  a  good  conscience,  and  the  testimony  of 
Jesus,  valued  not  their  natural  lives,  but  passive- 
ly submitted  to  the  cruelty  of  their  persecutors. 


CHAPTER  I. 

STATE  OF  THE  PRIMITIVE  CHURCHES  AND  THEIR 
DECLENSION  FROM  ORIGINAL  PURITY,  INTO 
ECCLESIASTICAL   ESTABLISHMENTS. 

The  persecutions  raised  against  Jesus  Christ 
and  his  immediate  followers,  became  the  visible 
means  of  distributing  the  first  promulgators  of  the 
outward  manifestation  of  Christ  among  the  sur- 
rounding nations. 

Their  labours  of  love  being  accompanied  with 
the  practical  evidences  of  the  Divine  spirit,  nu- 
merous churches  became  established  in  the  sim- 
plicity and  purity  of  truth — ardent  love  to  God, 
and  feeling  sympathetic  affection  to  one  anoth- 
er, purified  by  the  spirit  of  true  devotion,  became 
the  basis  and  bond  of  the  primitive  church's 
union.  They  practically  experienced  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  declaration  of  Jesus  Christ:  "  By  this 
shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye 
have  love  one  to  another."  While  the  primitive 
churches  abode  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  first 
love,  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  ne- 


cessity  for  outward  written  confessions  of  belief 
or  faith.  It  does  not  appear  that  Jesus  Christ 
laid  upon  his  followers  any  outward  formula  of 
external  doctrines  for  their  guidance  or  observ- 
ance; but  distinctly  assured  them,  that  the  spirit 
of  truth  in  their  own  minds  would  lead  them  into 
all  truth  necessary  for  them. — In  conformity 
with  this  assurance,  the  apostles,  when  met  to  de- 
liberate concerning  the  Gentile  believers,*  de- 
clared it  seemed  good  unto  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
them,  to  lay  no  other  burthen  upon  their  Gentile 
brethren,  than  to  abstain  from  those  immoralities 
and  idolatrous  customs,  which  were  inconsistent 
with  the  purity  of  Christian  worship  and  practice. 
Neither  Christ  nor  the  Apostles  thought  it  expe- 
dient to  condense  into  a  written  form,  any  system- 
atic theory  of  the  gospel,  nor  to  prescribe  any 
absolute  form  of  church  government.  What  is 
called  the  Apostles'  Creed,  is  alleged  by  eccle- 
siastical historiansf  not  to  have  been  written  for 
some  centuries  after  the  Apostolic  age;  and  that 
there  is  reason  to  believe  it  was  not  written  all  at 
once,  but  according  to  the  springing  up  in  the 
church,  from  time  to  time,  of  what  was  supposed 
to  be  heresy.  The  fact  is,  the  church  being 
composed  of  many  members,  a  gradual  unfolding 

*  Acts  xv.  29 

f  Mosheim,  vol.  i.  p.  33  &  54 


of  truth  was  to  be  experienced  in  the  minds  of  the 
faithful,  opening  their  views  to  the  adoption  and 
application  of  such  measures,  as  their  wants  and 
exigencies  might  require.  This  was  evidently 
the  testimony  of  Jesus,  when  he  declared  that 
they  that  did  the  will  of  his  Father  in  heaven, 
should  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  was  true, 
by  the  practical  operation  of  Truth  enlightening 
their  minds.  And  again,  he  testified  to  his  follow- 
ers, "I  have  many  things  to  say  unto  you,  but  ye 
cannot  bear  them  now." 

From  these  testimonies,  as  well  as  from  the 
practice  of  the  apostles  and  primitive  church,  we 
may  perceive,  that  both  individual  members  and 
the  collective  church,  were  to  be  under  the  in- 
fluence, direction,  and  government  of  the  spirit 
of  Christ.  And  for  the  encouragement  of  dedicat- 
ed faithfulness,  it  was  promised,  "  where  two  or 
three  are  met  together  in  my  name,  there  will  I 
be  in  the  midst  of  them."  And  again,  u  Lo  I 
am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world." 

Hence,  the  members  of  the  true  church  in 
every  age,  were  to  turn  their  principal  attention, 
and  place  their  chief  dependence  upon  the  open- 
ings, leading,  and  guidance  of  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  both  in  their  private  walking,  and  in  their 
relations  with  one  another,  in  maintaining  that 


order  and  consistency,  into  which  the  truth  ever 
will    lead  its  followers.      Entire  uniformity  in 
every  idea  and  opinion,  does  not  appear  essential 
to  the  advancement-of  different  individuals,  in 
the  saving  knowledge  and  experimental  benefits 
of  the  truth.     Neither  does  entire  uniformity  in 
church  government,  seem  essential  for  the  right 
ordering  of  different  religious    communities  or 
churches,  if  the  operation  of  best  wisdom  be 
rightly  applied  to  their  respective  situations  and 
circumstances.     The  order  and  proceedings  of 
the  primitive  churches,  were  such  as  the  spirit 
of  truth  led  its  followers  into.     They  were  at  first 
single  congregations*  of  Christians,  united  in  the 
feeling  of  Christian  love  and  mutual  enjoyment, 
instructing  and  strengthening  one  another  in  the 
path  of  virtue  and  piety.     Whatever  arrange- 
ment their  particular  situations  might  require, 
in  instructing  the  ignorant,  visiting  the  sick,  and 
supplying  the  necessities  of  the  poor,  the  mem- 
bers of  each  community  were  upon  the  most  per- 
fect equality,  each  administering  the  necessary 
care  to  its  own  concerns.     Thus  practically  re- 
alizing the  declaration,   "  One  is  your  Master 
even  Christ,  and  all  ye  are  brethren.'7 

Until  the  middle  of  the  second  century,  the 
practical  illustration  of  Christian  principle  and 

*    Mosheim,  p.  45,  vol.  i. 


piety  remained  in  effective  operation,  when  the 
Grecian  churches*  in  conformity  with  their  po- 
litical customs,  began  to  associate  or  form  all  the 
congregations  of  a  province,  into  one  ecclesiasti- 
astical  body — other  provinces  imitated  the  ex- 
ample of  forming  councils  or  synods,  thus  break- 
ing up  the  beautiful  equality  into  which  the 
gospel  had  led,  and  eventually  laying  a  founda- 
tion for  raising  the  whole  structure  of  ecclesias- 
tical distinction  and  domination,  which  has  prov- 
ed so  injurious  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the 
general  interests  of  mankind . 

These  councils  or  synods,  although  composed 
of  Ministers  or  Bishops  as  representatives  from 
the  several  congregations  or  churches,  by  de- 
grees assumed  exclusive  power,  until  they  be- 
came independent  of  the  people;  turning  their 
influence  into  dominion,  and  their  counsel  into 
laws,  and  in  process  of  time,  they  openly  asserted 
that  Christ  had  empowered  them  to  prescribe  to 
his  people,  authoratative  rules  of  faith  and  man- 
ners, as  well  as  to  demand  of  right  an  exclusive 
maintainance.f 

Such  practical  deviations  from  the  simplicity 
and  purity  of  the  gospel,  could  not  fail  to  alienate 

*  Mosheim,  page  87,  vol.  i. 
f  Mosheim,  page  88,  vol.  i. 

2 


10 


the  minds  of  Christian  professors,  from  the  spring 
of  true  piety  and  virtue,  and  open  a  door  to  those 
errors  and  schisms,  which  spread  over  the  Chris- 
tian churches.- — As  the  Bishops  and  other  bene- 
ficiaries of  the  church  rose  to  independence,  and 
obtained  the  means  of  worldly  aggrandizement, 
they  imbibed  the  wisdom  and  policy  of  the  world, 
and  became  involved  in  those  pursuits  which  led 
to  preferment  and  individual  promotion. 

The  Bishops  having  raised  themselves  as  a 
distinct  order  above  the  people,  soon  violated  the 
equality  of  one  another,  and  claimed  those  degrees 
of  precedency  which  are  conformable  to  the  de- 
sires of  worldly  ambition.  New  orders  of  infe- 
rior clergy  were  introduced  by  degrees  into  the 
service  of  the  church,  and  many  customs  inter- 
mixed with  the  forms  of  religious  worship,  which 
greatly  tended  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  those 
engaged  in  making  a  gain  or  merchandize  of  the 
concerns  of  religious  society.  The  Bishops  in 
many  places  assumed  a  princely  splendour  and 
authority,  where  ever  they  could  obtain  the 
means  from  the  churches  under  their  care.  The 
example  of  the  Bishops  was  ambitiously  imitated 
by  the  inferior  orders  of  clergy,  who  appear  to 
have  much  neglected  the  duties  of  the  stations 
they  laid  claim  to,  and  abandoned  themselves  to 


11 


the  indolence  and  delicacy  of  an  effeminate  and 
luxurious  life.*  Thus  the  simplicity  and  pu- 
rity of  the  Christian  church  was  by  degrees  de- 
parted from,  and  an  establishment  of  Political 
Christianity  gradually  raised  by  human  policy 
and  power,  which  for  ages  darkened  with  its 
shade  the  rising  emotions  of  virtue  in  the  human 
mind. 

*  Moaheira,  page  136,  vol.  i. 


% 


13 


CHAPTER    II. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  ORTHODOX  CREED,  AND  GRADUAL 
ADVANCEMENT  OF  THE  PROTESTANT  REFOR- 
MATION. 

In  the  progress  of  individual  aggrandizement 
and  conflicting  interests  for  the  attainment  of 
power,  the  rulers  of  the  church  became  involved 
in  contentions  and  divisions  respecting  opinions 
and  doctrines,  which  greatly  disturbed  the  public 
repose,  while  their  only  object  was  to  promote  pri- 
vate interest,  by  the  establishment  of  particular 
dogmas. — To  allay  these  feuds  and  contentions, 
and  perhaps,  with  political  views,  to  consolidate 
his  own  power  through  the  agency  of  the  church, 
Constantine  the  Roman  Emperor  convened  a  gen- 
eral Council  of  Bishops  at  Nice,  in  the  year  325* 
whose  deliberations  on  the  existing  controver- 
sies in  the  church,  resulted  in  the  formation  of 
what  has  been  called  the  Nicean  or  Athanasian 
Creed.  This  Creed  which  sprung  from  conten- 
tion, appearing  to  be  gratifying  to  the  greater 

*  Mosheim,  p.  217,  vol.  i, 


14 


number  of  church  rulers  and  who  of  consequence 
had  the  most  influence  and  power  over  the  peo- 
ple, was  sanctioned  by  the  Emperor,  and  enforc- 
ed by  law;  but  was  afterwards  annulled,  and  op- 
posite views  countenanced  and  supported,  both 
by  Constantine  and  his  successors.      Both  the 
supporters  and  opposers  of  this  creed,  appear  to 
have  acted  on  the  principle  of  coercion,  enforc- 
ing by  pains  and  penalties  their  prevailing  views. 
After  much  contention  and  persecution  on  both 
sides,  this  famous  creed  received  the  finishing 
touch,  by  a  second  council  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Bishops,  met  in  Constantinople  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Emperor  Theodosius,  in  the  year 
381* — which    was    thenceforward    taken    and 
deemed  to  be  orthodox — whatever  may  be  the 
proper  meaning  of  the  term  orthodoxy,  in  the 
case  before  us,  it  plainly  exhibits  a  system  of 
religious  opinions,  supported  and  imposed  on 
others   by  power.     The  practical  operation  of 
the  spirit  of  orthodoxy,  has  afforded  unequivocal 
proofs  of  the  correctness  of  this  definition.     It 
seems  hardly  possible  to  estimate  the  quantity  of 
human  comfort  and  human  life,  that  this  spirit  of 
orthodoxy  has  destroyed  in  the  world,  through 
the  ages  that  are  past.    The  humane  mind  sickens 
at  a  review  of  the  bloody  spectacle  produced  by 

*  Mosheim,  p.  224,  vol.  i. 


15 


the  most  cruel  malignity  of  which  the  heart  of 
man  is  capable,  under  the  guise  of  religious  zeal. 
Whatever  may  be  the  merits  or  pretensions  of 
this  orthodox  creed,  we  are  sure  it  has  no  neces- 
sary connexion  with  the  gospel  of  Christ,  which 
breathes  (i  peace  on  earth  and  goodwill  to  men," 
leaving  all,  as  it  respects  private  judgment,  in 
the  enjoyment  of  their  own  feelings,  answerable 
to  Him  only  who  sees  in  "  secret,  and  who  will 
reward  openly."  The  formation  of  any  creed, 
abstractedly  considered,  may  be  harmless;  but  its 
substitution  in  the  place  of  the  gospel,  or  its 
imposition  on  others  who  have  the  same  Unaliena- 
ble right  to  judge  for  themselves,  as  those  who 
made  it,  appears  to  be  impious  and  unjust. — Im- 
pious, in  setting  up  an  image  of  human  concep- 
tion, to  limit  the  unfoldings  of  the  Divine  spirit; 
unjust,  in  violating  every  obligation,  arising  from 
the  equality  of  our  common  nature.  The  exhi- 
bition Of  a  creed  as  a  popular  centre  of  voluntary 
union  in  particular  societies,  may  be  admissible, 
on  the  ground  of  human  policy;  but  it  has  no 
countenance  or  foundation  in  the  gospel,  which 
consists  <e  not  in  word  only  but  in  power." 

That  there  were  many  good  and  piously  dispo- 
sed men,  both  in  the  councils  of  Nice  and  Con- 
stantinople, who  framed  and  sanctioned  this  or- 
thodox creed,  will  readily  be  admitted  by  every 


16 


liberal  mind;  but  it  is  plain  that  the  active  and 
prevailing  part,  took  a  direction  under  the  influ- 
ence of  selfish  views,  in  conformity  with  human 
policy.  The  superstructure  of  political  Chris- 
tianity, raised  on  the  basis  of  this  orthodox  creed, 
during  what  has  not  inaptly  been  called  the  dark 
ages,  appears  to  have  had  the  most  appalling  and 
paralyzing  effects  on  the  interests  of  human  socie- 
ty— all  the  energies  of  the  human  mind  seem  to 
have  been  absorbed  in  the  vortex  of  a  gloomy 
superstition,  as  weak  and  unavailing  to  man,  as 
the  controllers  of  this  potent  engine  were  despo- 
tic and  cruel. — But  although  the  interests  of  hu- 
manity were  widely  poured  out,  as  a  continued  li- 
bation to  the  superstition  of  the  mixed  despotism  of 
church  and  state,  there  was  always  a  remnant  of 
worsh'ppers  of  the  true  God  in  every  age,  scat- 
tered up  and  down,  whose  example  tended  to 
preserve  some  sense  of  true  piety  and  virtue  in 
their  different  vicinities. 

The  true  church  for  many  ages  appears  to 
have  been  in  the  wilderness,  or  hid  from  public 
view,  by  the  gaudy  pageantry  and  ostentatious 
exhibition  of  human  contrivances,  which  attract- 
ed and  absorbed  the  devotional  powers  of  the 
mind  of  man — many  who  might  bow  as  in  the 
house  of  Rimmon,  were  nevertheless  upright 
and  sincere  in  heart,  although  the  understanding 


17 


might  be  veiled  by  the  superstitions  which  sur- 
rounded them.  The  obscuring  veil  of  human 
tradition,  could  not  wholly  prevent  the  secret 
operations  of  spiritual  life  in  the  mind  of  man. — 
Numerous  individuals  and  whole  societies  were 
often  raised  up  to  bear,  more  or  less,  clear  testi- 
monies to  the  spiritual  virtues  of  Divine  truth. — 
The  Beggards,  Lollards,  Waldenses,  and  other 
descriptions  of  communities  through  many  dark 
ages,  bore  in  their  practice  a  light  of  truth, 
which  all  the  violence  of  their  persecutors  could 
not  extinguish.  This  light  continued  to  shine, 
until  a  considerable  reformation  was  produced  in 
the  15th  and  16th  centuries,  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Luther,  Zuingle,  Calvin,  Wickliff, 
and  Knox,  who  greatly  contributed  to  break  the 
yoke  of  Papal  supremacy;  and  as  Pioneers,  open- 
ed the  way  for  the  advancement  of  purer  views 
and  a  more  correct  practice  of  gospel  truth. 
The  Protestant  and  Reformed  churches,  by  de- 
grees excited  general  attention,  and  awakened 
the  human  mind  to  deep  consideration,  in  regard 
to  the  propriety  of  existing  religious  ceremonies 
and  practices.  The  dead  weight  of  superstitious 
oppression  was  felt  as  a  grievous  encumbrance, 
and  new  modifications  of  religious  ceremony  took 
place  in  different  parts,  according  as  the  light  of 
reformation  progressed.     As  the  fascinating,  de- 


18 


ceptive,  and  mysterious  exhibition  of  idolatrous 
worship,  came  to  be  superceded  by  simpler  and 
more  rational  forms,  the  public  mind  began  to 
question  the  authority  of  tradition;  and  amidst 
the  variety  of  conflicting  opinions,  by  degrees 
the  light  of  truth  came  to  be  more  fully  elicited 
and  generally  understood,  both  in  regard  to  Chris- 
tian principle  and  practice.  In  looking  through 
the  gloomy  vista  of  the  dark  ages,  in  which  so 
many  generations  of  men  groped  their  way,  em- 
bosomed in  the  clouds  of  bewildering  superstition, 
the  philanthropic  mind,  hails  with  complacent 
joy  the  rising  dawn  of  the  light  of  reformation, 
shedding  its  radiance  on  the  interests  of  man; 
but  must  perceive  with  deep  regret  the  light  of 
truth  too  often  interrupted  by  some  of  the  reform- 
ers rebuilding  again  those  things  that  were  de- 
stroyed, New  modifications  of  external  cere- 
mony and  controversial  speculations  respecting 
doctrinal  views,  appear  to  have  embraced  too 
much  of  the  attention  of  the  Reformed  churches, 
and  retarded  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  spirit, 
which  alone  produces  Christian  charity  and  prac- 
tical piety.  Reformation  in  several  National 
churches  produced  a  change  in  the  public  mind 
respecting  the  externals  of  religion,  without  pro- 
ducing the  desirable  effects  of  the  Divine  spirit, 
charity,  love  and  affectionate  regard  for  one  an- 


19 


other.     The  strenuous  reformers  of  one  church, 
disputed  and  contended  with,  and  even  perse- 
cuted those  of  other  churches;  plainly  evincing 
that  their  kingdom  was  too  much  of  this  world — 
afraid  or  ashamed  to  own  the  unfoldings  of  the 
spirit  of  truth  in  their  own  minds,  the  first  re- 
formers sought  a  foundation  and  a  defence  in  the 
opinions  of  the  ancient  Fathers,  placing  confi- 
dence in  the  interpretations  of  scripture  by  those 
Fathers,*  without  coming  to  the  evidences  o( 
the  spirit  of  genuine  reformation  in  themselves, 
or  even  trusting  to  the  express  letter  of  scrip- 
ture for  their  rule,  without  the  glosses  of  anti- 
quity, which  had  no  proper  bearing  on  the  ques- 
tion of  reformation  in  modern  times.     HenCe, 
the  great  variety  of  conflicting  opinions,  which 
marked  the  progress  of  the  Reformed  churches, 
and  so  much  disturbed  the  public  mind.     Opin- 
ions springing  from  the  opinions  of  others,  be- 
came a  fruitful  source  of  controversy,  and  di- 
verted the  mind  from  a  proper  inquiry  into  the 
origin,  or  true  ground  of  religious  principle  and 
its  abuse.  All  the  controversy  of  learned  church- 
men for  several  ages,  only  produced  an  altera- 
tion in  the  exterior  appearance  of  religious  «ere- 
mony,  and  rebuilt  their  particular  churches  on 
the  batiis  of  the  ancient  orthodox  creed,     The 

*  Hui'd  on  the  Prophecies,  Sermon  fStfi,  page  350, 


20 


Reformed  National  churches,  settling  again  on 
the  old  foundation,  and  adhering  to  the  old  root 
of  orthodoxy,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  same 
superstructure  of  political  Christianity,  compo- 
sed of  other  objects  and  forms  should  be  raised, 
and  the  same  fruits  of  penal  coercion  brought 
forth,  to  bear  upon  those  they  denominated  non- 
conformists. A  gradation  in  the  development 
and  fulfilment  of  events,  is  perhaps  best  adapted 
to  the  nature  of  man,  and  the  interest  of  human 
society.  In  the  unfoldings  of  an  Allwise  Provi- 
dence, the  general  reformation  from  the  gross 
darkness  of  ecclesiastical  superstition  was  a  great 
object  attained.  The  spirit  of  inquiry  was  ex- 
cited, and  light  became  gradually  diffused  on 
the  religious  and  moral  state  of  man.  However, 
the  political  and  ecclesiastical  powers  of  the 
earth  combined  to  establish  the  channels  of  their 
own  interest,  and  consolidate  their  power  over 
the  rights  of  the  people,  the  light  of  reformation 
was  spread  too  wide,  and  risen  too  high,  ever  to 
become  wholly  extinguished.  If  it  was  repress- 
ed in  one  nation  or  district,  it  arose  with  more 
brightness  and  lustre  in  some  other  nation  or  dis- 
trict, where  Divine  Providence  opened  a  way 
for  it. 


21 


CHAPTER  III. 

RISE  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS,  THEIR  PE- 
CULIAR PRINCIPLES  LEADING  UNTO  PECU- 
LIAR  TESTIMONIES. 

Among  the  numerous  testimony-bearers  to 
what  they  believed  to  be  the  light  of  truth,  wit- 
nessing against  the  recived  errors  of  the  refor- 
mation, the  religious  society  of  Friends  took  its 
rise,  and  soon  came  to  be  an  interesting  portion 
of  the  Christian  community.  This  society  arose 
at  a  period,  when  church  and  state  were  greatly 
agitated,  by  the  speculations  of  different  religious 
professors,  and  by  the  intrigues  of  different 
political  parties.  Its  organization  and  establish- 
ment, was  through  manifold  trials  and  much  suf- 
fering on  the  part  of  those  prepared  to  become 
instrumental  in  concentrating  the  light  of  truth, 
so  as  to  produce  the  practical  effects  of  its  virtue 
and  power.  The  combined  operations  of  church 
and  state  could  not  repress  the  arising  and  con- 
solidation of  the  society  of  Friends.  The  devices 
brought  into  action,  and  the  penalties  inflicted 


2% 


upon  this  people,  greatly  tended  to  bring  into 
view,  the  effective  illustration  of  that  spiritual 
principle,  which  the  society  believes  every  hu- 
man mind  is  endowed  with,  as  a  medium  where- 
by the  saving  unction  and  virtue  of  the  gospel 
may  be  experienced.  The  recognition  of  this 
spiritual  principle,  as  a  leader  and  guide  in  spi- 
ritual things,  became  a  rallying  point  to  many 
minds  sorely  perplexed  and  tossed  to  and  fro, 
upon  the  current  of  the  floating  opinions  of  the 
age.  Individuals  having  come  to  the  experience 
of  a  spiritual  principle  opening  their  understand- 
ing, enlightening  their  path,  and  drawing  their 
minds  into  a  sensible  union  with  the  immutable 
and  inexhaustible  fountain  of  good,  they  became 
associated  and  united  together  in  the  participa- 
tion of  heavenly  virtue,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  spiritual  bond  of  union  and  Christian  fellowship 
which  could  not  be  broken — meetings  were  ga- 
thered and  established  upon  the  basis  of  primi- 
tive essential  principle,  and  in  the  absence  of 
ereaturely  activity  and  external  ceremony,  spiri- 
tual worship  in  its  native  operation  and  powerful 
effects,  came  to  be  known. 

As  the  human  mind  comes  to  cease  from  its 
own  irregular  workings,  and  emptied  of  those 
cogitations  produced  by  visible  objects,  it  recurs 
in  some  degree  to  its  pristine  state  of  adaptation, 


23 


as  a  recipient  for  spiritual  impressions,  congenial 
with  its  unadulterated  nature,  and  convertible 
into  spiritual  nourishment  and  Christian  strength. 
From  this  source,  through  dedicated  minds, 
emanated  the  different  peculiar  testimonies  which 
the  religious  society  of  Friends  embraced  as  a 
people,  and  maintained  in  practice,  even  under 
grievous  persecution.  The  testimonies  into  which 
the  exercise  of  true  spiritual  worship  led,  were 
consistent  with  themselves,  and  reached  the  pure 
witness  for  truth  in  many  minds,  who  were  stran- 
gers to  the  spirituality  of  religious  principle. 
The  verbal  and  practical  testimonies  of  indivi- 
duals redeemed  from  the  corruptions  of  selfish 
nature  by  the  virtue  of  divine  grace,  were  gladly 
received  by  many  in  the  love  of  truth;  and  thus 
in  the  ordering  of  Divine  Wisdom  the  society  of 
Friends  was  as  an  example  to  the  nations,  gather- 
ed out  of  all  other  Christian  denominations  into 
the  capacity  of  a  visible  church. 

The  decisive  testimonies  borne  by  the  society 
of  Friends  against  the  corruptions  of  Christianity, 
excited  great  animadversion  and  opposition  in 
the  minds  of  many,  in  almost  all  the  existing  de- 
nominations of  Christian  professors.  However 
these  denominations  differed  from  one  another, 
they  appear  to  have  united  in  a  general  opposi- 
tion to  Friends.     The  Quaker  principle  was  de- 


24 


nounced  as  embracing  a  renunciation  of  Christi- 
anity., and,  under  the  pretence  of  greater  degrees 
of  spiritual  light,  undervaluing  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, denying  the  Lord  that  bought  them,  and 
in  consequence  of  their  supposed  infidel  views, 
the  society  was  deemed  unworthy  of  either  Chris- 
tian communion  or  civil  protection.*  This  de- 
nunciation was  not  in  words  only,  but  was  em- 
braced and  acted  upon  by  high  religious  profes- 
sors, in  effective  stations  both  in  church  and 
state.  All  the  energies  of  that  spirit  of  undue 
domination,  which  seeks  to  controul  both  the 
minds  and  bodies  of  men,  appear  to  have  been 
aroused  at  the  prospect  of  the  human  mind  be- 
coming released  from  those  fetters,  which  scho- 
lastic divinity  for  ages  had  been  rivetting. 

However  charity  may  be  disposed  to  cover 
with  its  mantle  the  aberrations  of  erring  humani- 
ty, it  is  a  homage  due  to  immutable  truth,  to 
acknowledge  the  liability  of  the  human  mind  to 
misapply  the  meaas  of  good  so  as  to  produce 
the  evil.  The  misapplication  of  religious  prin- 
ciple and  feeling,  has  proved  a  cause  of  more 
calamity  to  the  human  family,  than  all  other 
causes  combined.     The  ancient,  abstruse  and 

*  See  Address  of  the  General  Court  of  Boston,  to  King 
Charles  2d,  on  his  restoration. — Hutchison's  history  op  Mas- 
sachusetts. 


25 

complicated  theology  of  the  schoolmen  appears  to 
have  been  founded  on  mystery,  cemented  by  tra- 
dition and  ceremonial  superstition,  and  enforced 
by  civil  penalties.  However  the  reformation  may 
have  softened  some  of  the  features  of  this  picture, 
the  native  liniaments  remained  virtually  and  sub- 
stantially the  same.     The  political  establishment 
of  the  national  reformed  churches,  embracing  a 
forced  maintainance  for  the  clergy,  appears  to 
have  prevented  them  from  coming  fully  to  the 
light  of  the  gospel  day,  or  the  full  realization  of 
gospel  principle  and  practice.   The  reformed  hi- 
erarchy, was  willing  to  borrow  from  Popish  su- 
premacy the  succession  of  the  ministry,  with  the 
correponding  entail  of  ie  the  loaves  and  fishes.'5* 
The  society  of  Friends  was  originally  formed 
of  individuals  who  had  come  to  the  experimental 
knowledge  of  gospel  truth,  and  could  not  sub- 
ject principle  to  interest,  nor  comply  with  the 
demands  of  church  rates,  nor  in  any  way  counte- 
tenance  or  support  a  hireling  ministry.     Hence 
the  animosity  of  the  clergy  to  this  people,  and 
their  constant  endeavours  to  unchristianize  them, 
and  render  them  odious  in,  the  eyes  of  the  world. 
Friends  believed  they  were  called  to  bear  verbal 
and  practical  testimony  to  the  simplicity,  purity, 
and    universality  of   the   gospel    dispensation. 
They  claimed  nothing  more  nor  less,  than  the 
4 


26 


liberty  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.     Without 
calling  in  question  the  written  scriptures,  they 
embraced  the  spirituality  of  the  gospel  dispen- 
tion,  and  believed  every  individual  had  a  mea- 
sure of  the  divine  spirit  to  preserve  him  from 
evil  or  redeem  him  from  it.   This  claim  subject- 
ed the  society,  in  the  eyes  of  the  hireling  clergy, 
to  the  charge  of  enthusiasm  and  fanaticism,  and 
many  other  opprobrious  epithets.     The  reason  is 
obvious:  the  universal  operation  of  the  efficient 
principle  of  divine  grace  in  the  mind  of  man,  to 
which  they  bore  testimony,  takes  the  commodity 
of  gospel  traffic  out  of  the  hands  of  the  clergy. 
It  places  them  on  a  level  with  other  men,  and 
dries  up  the  source  of  their  power  and  interest. 
Hence  the  tocsin  of  alarm,  "  the  church  is  in 
danger,"  has  constantly  been  sounded,  when  in- 
dividuals  or  communities  have  let  go  their  lead- 
ing strings  of  tradition,  and  inquired  or  judged 
for  themselves  respecting  the  obligations  of  reli- 
gious duty. 

Truth  is  immutable,  universal  in  its  nature, 
and  will  shed  its  influence  and  benefits  on  all 
who  come  under  its  operation.  The  spiritual 
ministration  of  the  gospel  dispensation  is,  in  di- 
vine wisdom,  every  way  adapted  to  the  capacity 
and  wants  of  man.  So  far  is  the  leading  and  dis- 
tinguishing -principle  of  the  religious  society  of 


27 


Friends  from  being  enthusiastical,  fanatical, 
or  visionary,  that  it  is  not  only  clearly  deli- 
neated in  the  scriptures,  but  is  in  accordance 
with  the  very  constitution  of  the  human  mind. 
As  the  human  body  consists  of  organized  matter 
fitting  it  for  animal  sensation,  and  requiring 
material  nourishment  to  support  it  in  the  exer- 
cise  of  the  functions  of  animal  life;  so  the  hu- 
man mind,  consisting  in  a  germ  of  intellectual 
being,  requires  the  aid  and  influence  of  the  di- 
vine spirit,  to  qualify  it  for  fulfilling  the  functions 
of  intellectual  life.  This  germ  of  intellectual 
being  is  capable  of  expanding  in  time,  and  of  en- 
joying in  eternity  the  impress  or  image  of  the 
communicable  attributes  of  its  divine  original. 
The  intellectual  capacity  yielding  to  the  impres- 
sions of  the  attributes  of  the  divine  spirit,  wheth- 
er of  light  and  knowledge,  or  love  and  goodness, 
becomes  a  recipient  of  that  spiritual  nourish- 
ment which  alone  can  sustain  the  faithful  mind 
in  all  its  exercises.  The  reciprocation  of  the 
mind  of  man  under  the  impressions  of  that  spirit 
which  "giveth  it  an  understanding,'*  is  that 
spiritual  intercourse  which  constitutes  essential 
divine  worship,  and  ever  has  and  vjill  ever 
remain  to  be,  the  alone  basis  of  all  true  religion 
and  piety.  If  nothing  were  brought  forth  in 
the  human  mind  but  the  images  and  fruits  of 


28 


the  divine  spirit,  there  could  be  nothing  but 
peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  to  men.  Turn- 
ing from  the  influence  and  direction  of  this 
spirit,  and  yielding  to  the  impulses  and  desires  of 
the  earthly  nature,  is  the  cause  of  evil  in  the 
human  heart.  As  the  mind  recedes  from  the 
divine  light,  or  its  spiritual  guide,  it  falls  in  the 
same  proportion  under  the  influence  and  con- 
trol of  the  sensual  nature.  Human  nature  be- 
ing susceptible  of  animal  sensation  and  intellec- 
tual feeling,  appears  to  form  a  connecting  link 
between  animal  and  intellectual  life.  The  posi- 
tion of  man  on  the  scale  of  being,  connects  him 
with  two  worlds.  The  probations  arising  from 
his  mixed  nature  are  great.  His  means  of  safe 
guidance  are  amply  sufficient,  and  his  enjoyment 
and  happiness  commensurate  with  his  trials  and 
obedience  to  the  unfoldings  of  the  redeeming 
spirit  of  Christ. 

From  an  impartial  review  of  the  nature  and 
operation  of  the  fundamental  principle  of  the 
society  of  Friends,  there  does  not  appear  any  just 
ground  for  the  charge  of  fanaticism  and  selfish- 
ness. The  society  claims  no.  exclusive  rights  or 
privileges.  The  Friends  stand  on  a  level  with 
their  fellow  men.  The  principle  of  saving  light 
and  grace  is  as  free  and  universal  as  the  light  of 
the  sun,  or  the  air  of  the  atmosphere.    However 


29 


variously  the  degrees  of  external  knowledge  may 
be  diffused  among  the  different  classes  of  men, 
the  monitions  and  gratulations  of  divine  good, 
reach  every  heart  in  every  clime.  No  exter- 
nal condition  precludes  the  aspirations  of  the 
spirit  of  true  devotion.*  Amidst  all  the  vari- 
ous evils  of  human  life,  the  bland  effulgence  of 
celestial  virtue,  encircling  the  wounded  heart, 
soothes  to  resignation  and  peace. 

*  Coloss.  c.  1.  xxiii. 


31 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  DISCIPLINE  OF  FRIENDS  GRAD- 
UALLY ESTABLISHED,  AND  THE  USEFULNESS 
OF   THE    SOCIETY    EXHIBITED. 

About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  centu- 
ry,* the  society  of  Friends  began  to  be  general- 
ly known,  and  in  process  of  time  their  meetings 
became  organized  under  that  christian  discipline 
which  still  remains  in  operation.  The  formation 
of  the  society  appears  to  have  progressed  under 
the  special  care  of  Divine  Providence  to  the 
raising  up  of  a  people  to  bear  testimony  to  the 
practical  operation  of  gospel  principles.  The 
society  adopted  no  written  creed,  but  received 
the  gospel,  in  the  love  of  it,  as  free  and  unfetter- 
ed as  it  was  left  by  Jesus  Christ  and  his  apostles. 
Individual  convincement  of  their  fundamental 
principle,  the  light  of  divine  grace,  or  a  mea- 
sure of  the  spirit  of  Christ  in  every  mind,  was 
made  manifest  by  corresponding  consistent  prac- 
tice, and  became  the  passport  to  their  communion 

*  Swell's  History  from  1650  to  1666. 


32 


or  Christian  fellowship.  No  systematic  theory  of 
religious,  opinions  founded  upon  private  views,  or 
the  judgment  of  the  individuals  was  imposed  upon 
one  another  by  this  society.  Every  one's  con- 
science was  left  free  and  unfettered  in  his  pro- 
gress in  the  development  of  views  respecting 
faith  or  belief,  provided  his  practice  and  ex- 
ample were  consistent  with  fundamental  princi- 
ple. As  the  society  increased  over  a  wide  ex- 
tent of  country,  it  became  requisite  to  adopt 
those  rules  and  regulations  into  which  the  wis- 
dom of  truth  led,  properly  to  minister  to  the 
wants  and  exigencies  of  the  body,  in  a  visible 
church  capacity.  These  rules  and  regulations 
have  been  denominated  Christian  discipline. 
They  were  adopted  from  time  to  time  by  the 
body  according  to  the  wants  and  circumstances 
of  the  society.  Being  founded  on  gospel  prin- 
ciples, they  were  designed  to  be  administered  in 
gospel  feeling,  for  the  help  and  welfare  of  all  the 
members. 

The  object  was  to  take  care  of  the  poor;  to 
oversee  orphans,  and  others  under  suffering  in 
that  day  of  trial;  to  superintend  at  marriages, 
that  they  might  be  orderly  accomplished,  and 
generally  to  extend  care  over  each  other,  that 
the  life  and  conversation  of  the  members  might 
be  consistent  with  their  profession.      On  this 


33 


subject  William  Perm  says  in  his  preface  to 
George  Fox's  Journal,  p.  33.  (i  They  distin- 
guish between  imposing  any  practice  that  imme- 
ately  regards  faith  or  worship,  (which  is  never 
to  be  done,  nor  suffered  or  submitted  unto,)  and 
requiring  Christian  compliance  with  those  me- 
thods that  only  respect  church  business  in  its 
more  civil  part  and  concern,  and  that  regard  the 
discreet  and  orderly  maintainance  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  society  as  a  sober  and  religious  com- 
munity." The  discipline  of  the  society  was  not 
to  interfere  with  the  faith  of  the  members;  but 
to  superintend  the  practice.  It  was  an  outward 
rule,  to  lay  hold  on  outward  irregularities,  and 
endeavour  to  regain  and  restore  offenders,  in  the 
love  and  meekness  of  the  gospel.  It  was  the 
care  of  the  body  continually  acting  on  itself,  for 
preservation,  or  extending  a  hedge  around  the 
members  that  they  might  not  stray  from  the 
fountain  of  Christian  strength.  The  proper  ad- 
ministration of  Christian  discipline,  has  always 
been  an  object  of  great  interest  and  solicitude  to 
the  society.  On  this  subject  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Philadelphia  in  the  year  1808,  handed 
down  to  its  members  the  following  advices.* 
•'  As  it  consisted  with  the  will  of  our  Heavenly 

*  See  Christian  Advices. 
5 


34 


Father,  after  He  had  called  our  primitive 
Friends  from  the  various  forms  of  religion  to 
worship  Him  in  spirit,  to  lead  them  into  the  es- 
tablishing and  support  of  a  Christian  discipline 
for  the  help  and  preservation  of  the  body  in  a 
consistency  of  conduct,  we  exhort  all  who  are 
concerned  in  the  management  of  the  discipline, 
that  they  fervently  seek  to  be  clothed  with  a 
right  mind  therein,  that  nothing  may  be  done 
through  rashness,  strife,  or  vain  glory,  but  all 
with  a  single  eye  to  the  honour  of  truth,  and  the 
good  of  individuals. 

u  The  more  we  experience  a  preparation  of 
heart  for  the  exercise  of  our  respective  gifts,  the 
more  amply  shall  we  evince  the  expression  of 
the  tongue  to  be  seasoned  with  that  living  virtue 
and  divine  power  which  proceeds  from  our  Holy 
Head,  and  thus  in  conducting  the  important 
concerns  of  society  we  shall  be  enabled  to  exam- 
ple the  beloved  youth  in  a  manner  which  will 
evidence  to  them,  that  neither  tradition  nor  a 
mere  outward  education  can  fitly  prepare  them 
for  successors  in  the  church."  "  Therefore  let 
all  beware  of  their  own  spirits  and  keep  in  a 
gracious  temper,  that  so  they  may  be  fitted  for 
the  service  of  the  house  of  God,  whose  house  we 
are,  if  we  keep  upon  the  foundation  that  God 
hath  laid,  and  such  He  will  build  up,  and  teach 


35 


how  to  build  up  one  another  in  him;  and  as  every 
member  must  feel  life  in  himself  and  all  from  one 
head,  this  life  will  not  hurt  itself  in  any,  but  be 
tender  of  itself  in  all;  for  by  this  one  life  of  the 
word,  ye  were  begotten,  and  by  it  ye  are  nour- 
ished and  made  to  grow  into  your  several  ser- 
vices in  the  church  of  God;  it  is  no  man's  learn- 
ing nor  artificial  acquirements;  it  is  no  man's 
riches,  nor  greatness  in  this  world;  it  is  no  man's 
eloquence  and  natural  wisdom,  that  makes  him 
fit  for  government  in  the  church  of  Christ." 

Christian  discipline  founded  on  gospel  princi- 
ple, and  administered  in  gospel  feeling  and  qual- 
ification, purged  the  society  of  *  Friends  of  many 
pretenders  to  their  profession,  whose  extravagant 
and  irregular  behaviour,  afforded  reason  to  be- 
lieve they  had  not  come  experimentally  to  submit 
to  the  operation  of  the  Divine  power.  The  so- 
ciety in  the  exercise  of  its  disciplinary  functions, 
consistent  with  gospel  liberty  and  simplicity,  has 
exhibited  to  the  world,  for  several  generations, 
the  practicability  of  church  government  uncon- 
nected with  political  establishment  or  sanction. 
It  concentered  the  energies  of  the  society,  the 
effect  of  which  was  practically  to  illumine  the 
path  of  the  progress  of  religious  and  civil  liberty 
with  their  concomitant  train  of  ameliorating  in- 
fluences on  the  general  state  of  social  life. 


.      36 

Whatever  other  circumstances  contributed  to 
the  promotion  of  religious  toleration  and  liberty 
of  conscience,  the  society  of  Friends  as  a  body 
always  adhered  to  the  enjoyment  of  this  unalien- 
able right.  No  threatening,  persecution,  nor 
suffering  could  deter  them  from  maintaining  their 
testimony  to  the  public  worship  of  God  in  a  way 
they  believed  to  be  required  of  them.  When 
their  meetings  were  broken  up  by  violence,  they 
continued  to  meet  in  the  street,  and  even  on  the 
ruins  of  their  meeting  houses  in  the  most  inclem- 
ent season.*  On  thes6  trying  occasions,  the  pas- 
sive perseverance  and  orderly  deportment  of  the 
society,  combined  with  their  explicit  and  steady 
remonstrances  to  those  in  power,  as  well  as  to  the 
public  at  large,  must  have  naturally  tended  to 
open  the  public  view  to  see  the  propriety  of 
adopting  a  general  toleration. 

When  other  religious  professors  yielded  to  the 
pressure  of  tyrannic  sway,  the  society  of  Friends 
by  constant  perseverance  purchased  with  their 
blood,  the  liberty  of  conscience,  and  paved  the 
way  for  succeeding  generations  more  fully  to 
appreciate  equal  rights. 

The  political  establishment  of  Pennsylvania 
under  the  direction  of  Friends,  afforded  models 

*  Sewell's  History.  Vol.  2.  page,  3.  4. 


:u 


in  legislation  and  jurisprudence  to  surrounding 
states.  The  light  of  practical  truth  reflecting 
back  from  the  oppressed  of  all  nations  concen- 
trated under  the  auspices  of  liberty,  has  been 
re -acting  on  the  throne  of  tyranny,  and  ultimate- 
ly will  crumble  it  to  dust.  The  progress  of  dis- 
criminating knowledge,  arising  from  the  appre- 
hension of  essential  principle,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  virtue,  is  constantly  giving  an  impetus  to 
the  power  and  weight  of  public  opinion,  which 
will  in  process  of  time  effectually  cancel  the 
erroneous  dogmas  of  political  and  superstitious 
assumption,  and  restore  to  suffering  humanity, 
the  enjoyment  of  its  legitimate  rights. 

The  melioration  of  criminal  law  and  prison 
discipline  owe  much  to  Friends.  The  abolition 
of  slavery  early  obtained  a  deep  interest  among 
the  objects  of  their  care.  Long  and  persevering 
endeavours  to  aid  the  Indian  nations  in  attaining 
the  habits  and  conveniences  of  civilized  life,  has 
cost  the  society  great  labour  and  attention,  and 
seme  of  its  members  much  personal  solicitude  and 
privation.  The  education  of  the  children  of  the 
poor,  and  the  promotion  and  support  of  humane 
and  benevolent  institutions,  for  the  indigent, 
diseased,  and  distressed,  has  also  claimed  their 
particular  attention.  Whatever  has  tended  to 
correct,  elevate  and  properly  direct  the  human 


38 


mind,  has  uniformly  received  the  countenance 
and  support  of  Friends.  The  simplicity  and 
practical  nature  of  their  public  instruction,  it  is 
believed,  has  contributed  with  other  causes  to 
soften  or  neutralize  the  asperities  of  sectarian 
dogmas.  The  non- resisting  principles,  and  peace- 
able testimony  of  the  society,  and  the  illustration 
of  Christian  virtue,  by  practical  benevolence, 
have  dissipated  the  cloud  of  sectarian  prejudice, 
and  reached  the  kindred  feeling  of  human  kind- 
ness in  many  minds,  shedding  a  radiance  of  social 
peace,  concord,  and  domestic  comfort  in  many 
circles  of  general  society. 

In  exhibiting  those  traits  of  the  usefulness 
of  the  society  of  Friends,  there  is  no  intention 
to  lessen  the  usefulness  of  other  religious  pro- 
fessors, who  have  been  fellow  labourers  in  the 
promotion  of  Christian  knowledge  and  human 
comfort. — It  is  believed  there  has  been  a  ge- 
neral advancement  in  the  comprehension  of  cor- 
rect or  fundamental  principles,  and  that  as  true 
knowledge  increases,  charity  will  prevail,  and 
the  benefits  of  effective  religion  become  more 
generally  experienced. 


39 


CHAPTER  V. 

REVIEW  OF  THE  GENERAL  CAUSES  OF  DECLEN- 
SION IN  THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS,  THE 
SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  SOCIETY  IN  PENNSYL- 
VANIA,   AND    SUBSEQUENT    DECLENSION. 

Having  noticed  the  purity  and  simplicity  of 
the  fundamental  principle  of  Christianity,  and 
adverted  to  the  declension  of  the  primitive  chur- 
ches, and  viewed  the  reformation  until  the  rise 
of  the  society  of  Friends;  and  having  briefly  de- 
lineated the  peculiar  principle,  the  progress  and 
usefulness  of  this  society,  it  is  an  object  of  inter- 
esting solicitude,  in  connexion  with  the  light 
furnished  by  the  past  review,  to  proceed  to  the 
consideration  of  those  facts,  which  have  transpi- 
red within  the  limits  of  Philadelphia  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Friends  for  some  years  past,  so  as  to 
arrive  at  a  correct  judgment  in  regard  to  its  pre- 
sent state.  In  approaching  this  subject,  there 
is  need  of  that  charity,  "  which  thinketh  no 
evil,"  to  shield  the  mind  against  any  undue  ex- 
citement or  unpleasant  feeling,  respecting  indi- 


40 


viduals  who  may  have  taken  a  prominent  part  lit 
transactions  apparently  inconsistent  with  correct 
principles,  and  known  practice. 

In  the  formation  of  the  human  character,  there 
are  few  individuals  able  to  resist  the  pressure  of 
circumstances  continually  acting  on  them,  giving 
a  particular  direction  to  the  mind  in  forming 
opinions  and  producing  habits  that  dispose  to 
their  corresponding  modes  of  action.  Hence, 
however  we  may  decide  on  the  tendency  of  ac- 
tions themselves,  there  seems  a  tenderness  and 
charity  due  to  one  another,  as  it  regards  motives, 
arising  from  different  degrees  of  mental  light  or 
spiritual  feeling.  How  far  individuals  may  be 
blamable  in  neglecting  the  means  of  having  their 
views  rightly  corrected,  and  their  motives  to 
action  properly  purified  and  wisely  directed, 
must  be  left  to  Him  who  alone  can  judge  the 
heart. 

The  religious  society  of  Friends,  like  all  other 
human  societies,  appears  to  have  been  more  or 
less,  subject  to  change.  However  pure  the 
principle  professed,  or  however  judicious  and 
efiicacious  the  system  of  discipline  adopted;  yet 
a  derelection  from  practical  principle,  could  not 
fail  to  prove  a  cause  of  declension  both  in  indi- 
viduals and  in  particular  meetings,  as  well  as  in 
more  extended  districts,  or  even  in  the  society 


41 


at  large.  If  we  recur  to  the  gradual  corruption 
of  the  primitive  churches,  we  shall  he  the  less 
surprised  at  the  possible  declension  of  any  mod- 
ern society  from  the  purity  of  first  principles. 
The  descendants  of  primitive  Friends,  having 
their  religion  by  education  and  tradition,  instead 
of  convincement  and  feeling  experience,  appear 
to  have  become  much  less  scrupulous  in  regard  to 
the  maintenance  of  the  practical  testimonies  of  the 
society,  and  more  disposed  to  neglect  the  prompt 
administration  of  the  discipline  upon  offenders, 
than  their  worthy  predecessors.  Hence  a  door 
was  opened  for  a  visible  declension  in  the  society. 
As  the  spirit  of  the  world  gained  admittance, 
the  love  of  many,  "  to  the  law  and  testimony," 
waxed  cold.  The  increase  of  wealth  and  riches 
raised  many  above  the  simplicity  of  the  truth, 
and  disqualified  others  to  be  usefully  engaged  in 
the  concerns  of  the  church.  Individuals  suc- 
ceeding to  the  estates  and  places  of  their  ances- 
tors in  the  society,  were  not  always  sufficiently 
prepared  rightly  to  sustain  the  proper  adminis- 
tration of  Christian  discipline;  but  too  often,  in 
the  will  and  wisdom  of  man,  endeavoured  to 
maintain  their  place  and  standing  in  conformity 
to  the  views  of  their  own  importance.  It  must 
be  obvious,  that  in  proportion  to  the  number  and 
influence  of  individuals  of  this  description,  a 

6 


42 


foundation  would  be  laid  for  reducing  the  beau- 
tiful simplicity  of  Christian  discipline,  to  a  mere 
mechanical  system,  differing  but  in  form  from 
other  political  establishments  of  church  govern- 
ment. In  the  absence  of  that  spirit  which  giveth 
life,  the  discipline  could  not  fail  to  become  as  a 
dead  letter,  and  be  construed  to  answer  the  pur- 
poses of  individuals  endeavouring  to  build  up 
themselves,  instead  of  labouring  after  those  qua- 
lifications which  prepare  to  become  the  "  ser- 
vants of  all."  As  individuals  under  the  wisdom 
and  policy  of  a  worldly  spirit,  gained  admission 
to  important  stations  in  the  society,  the  true  life 
and  virtue  of  the  principle  would  be  departed 
from,  and  lukewarnmess  and  consequent  declen- 
sion must  ensue.  Accordingly,  we  find  by  the 
representations  of  John  Griffith,  in  his  Journal  of 
religious  travels  and  labours  in  the  ministry  from 
the  year  1748  to  1770,  that  there  appeared  to 
be  in  England  an  almost  universal  declension  in 
the  society  from  the  spirit  and  practice  of  primi- 
tive Friends.  This  faithful  and  upright  servant 
says,  «  We  have  no  such  examples  in  the  pro- 
phets, or  in  Christ  and  his  apostles,  of  indulgence, 
and  winking  at  wrong  things,  and  false  ease. 
They  in  their  concern  to  testify  against  such 
things,  had  no  fear  of  breaking  unity,  nor  diturb- 
ing  the  quiet  and  peace  of  any  people,  let  their 


43 


rank  or  station  be  what  it  may.  Had  this  noble 
spirit  of  ancient  zeal  been  more  generally  exer- 
cised, in  plain  dealing,  and  speaking  the  truth 
one  to  another,  the  mournful  declension  so  justly 
complained  of  amongst  us  as  a  people,  would  not 
have  so  generally  prevailed." 

6i  It  may  be  justly  queried,  what  could  the 
Lord  have  done  for  us  that  he  has  not  done? 
Notwithstanding  which,  what  indifference,  luke- 
warmness  and  insensibility  as  to  the  life  of  religi- 
on, is  now  to  be  found  amongst  numbers  under  our 
name;  nay  in  some  places,  this  painful  lethargy 
is  become  almost  general;  although  I  hope  a  few 
may  be  excepted,  who  are  much  afflicted  on  that 
account,  being  exceedingly  burthened  with  an 
earthly  carnal  spirit." — Page  172. 

Although  a  pretty  general  revival  appears  to 
have  taken  place  in  England,  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  John  Griffith  and  his  fellow  labour- 
ers, respecting  the  support  and  right  exercise  of 
the  discipline;  yet  the  same  general  causes  of 
declension  have  been  operating  in  the  society 
from  that  period,  to  the  present  time.  The 
accumulation  of  wealth  in  particular  families, 
occasionally  blended  with  weight  of  moral  and 
religious  character,  has  created  a  considerable 
distinction  of  classes  in  the  modern  society  of 
Friends  in  England.     There  are  perhaps  in  that 


u 


country  all  classes,  from  the  lowest  menial  up  to 
the  (i  eminent  and  distinguished  Quaker,"  who 
treads  on  the  heels  of  the  bishop  or  grandee.  It 
is  not  supposed  that  wealth  and  influence,  or  any- 
eminent  distinction  justly  acquired,  are  censura- 
ble in  themselves;  but  if  with  a  selfish  view  they 
are  brought  to  bear  on  the  concerns  of  religious 
society,  they  may  produce  very  different  results 
from  the  meekness,  gentleness  and  charity,  which 
are  the  native  offspring  of  the  professed  principle 
of  the  religious  society  of  Friends.  Individuals 
of  real  or  assumed  high  standing,  mingling  in 
family  connexion,  having  one  view,  one  interest 
and  pursuit,  may  possibly  have  greatly  contri- 
buted to  give  a  direction  and  tone  to  the  society, 
of  a  very  different  complexion  from  the  simpli- 
city, plainness,  integrity  and  practical  virtue  of 
its  original  founders.  Hence,  of  latter  time,  we 
have  heard  that  an  individual  of  high  standing 
has  accommodated  his  views  to  a  greatly  declined 
state  of  religious  society,  by  endeavouring  to 
fritter  down  the  important  practical  testimonies 
of  Friends  to  mere  "distinguishing  peculiari- 
ties." A  more  ungenerous  censure  on  the  soci- 
ety could  hardly  be  made.  If  there  was  no  dif- 
ference between  the  fundamental  principles  of 
Friends  and  those  of  other  religious  professors, 
whence  was  it  that  Friends  were  persecuted  by 


45 

all  other  denominations  who  had  obtained  power? 
Let  us  recur  to  simple  facts. 

We  have  already  seen,  that  the  national  re- 
formed churches  stopped  short  in  their  progress. 
They  became  satisfied  with  the  muddy  stream  of 
human  rites  and  ceremonies,  while  the  society  of 
Friends  pressed  forward  to  the  fountain  head  or 
living  spring,  and  professed  nothing  more  than 
the  simple  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  leaving  all  the 
unavailing  ceremonial  forms  which  sprung  up  in 
the  will  and  wisdom  of  man,  seeking  his  own  gra- 
tification. 

The  testimonies  given  Friends  to  bear  were 
produced  by  the  Divine  Spirit  bringing  forth  its 
fruits  in  practice,  and  for  the  maintenance  of 
these  {C  distinguishing  peculiarities,"  many  gave 
up  their  liberty,  their  estates,  and  even  their 
lives.  It  is  natural  for  those  who  live  after  the 
flesh,  to  deride  and  persecute  those  who  are  born 
after  the  spirit.  Those  who  turn  from  the  minis- 
trations of  the  spirit,  will  ever  be  in  danger  of 
becoming  enticed  with  the  images  of  the  fleshly 
nature,  and  seek  for  a  rest,  short  of  that  practi- 
cal mortification  and  death  unto  self,  which  every 
true  Christian,  born  of  the  spirit,  must  experi- 
ence. From  this  simple  view,  we  may  see  the 
generation  of  that  spirit  of  assumed  orthodoxy, 
which  of  latter  years  has  burst  out  in  the  society 


46 


of  Friends,  threatening  to  lead  captive  the  whole 
heritage.  But  the  tender  care  and  merciful 
compassion  of  Israel's  unslumbering  shepherd, 
has  opened  a  way  for  Friends  in  this  country  to 
remain  faithful  to  the  law  and  the  testimony  of 
the  spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus;  and  there  is  no 
doubt  but  the  oppressed  seed  in  England  will, 
in  due  time,  experience  enlargement  from  that 
bondage  of  assumed  control,  which  for  years  past 
has  been  endeavouring  to  make  itself  strong. 

The  same  causes,  under  the  same  circumstan- 
ces, will  produce  the  same  effects.  The  society 
of  Friends  in  America,  from  a  small  beginning 
have  become  a  numerous  people.  The  simplicity, 
industry,  and  frugal  economy  requisite  in  new 
settlements,  are  in  some  degree  congenial  with 
the  views  and  habits  into  which  the  principles 
of  Friends  would  practically  lead.  Whatever 
were  the  trials  and  privations  of  the  Friends 
who  first  settled  in  New  Jersey  and  Penn- 
sylvania, they  appear  to  have  prospered  in  the 
maintenance  of  their  religious  principles;  in  the 
formation  of  civil  or  political  communities,  and 
in  obtaining  the  means  of  furnishing  their  de- 
scendants with  "  goodly  heritages."  Many  in- 
dividuals by  prudent  foresight,  and  industrious 
management,  with  other  circumstances  concur- 
ring, laid    a  foundation  for   their  offspring  to 


47 


realize  important  stations,  both  in  the  religious 
and  civil  community  which  they  could  not  other- 
wise have  reached.  This  no  doubt  is  the  origin 
of  the  wealth  of  many  families,  whose  descend- 
ants at  present  plume  themselves  on  their  distinc- 
tion. A  review  of  the  progress  of  these  first 
settlers,  is  gratifying  to  humanity.  The  practi- 
cal operation  of  pious  and  virtuous  principles, 
produced  a  degree  of  comfort  and  happiness, 
perhaps  unequalled  in  the  history  of  nations. 

Thomas  Clarkson,  in  his  memoirs  of  the  life  of 
William  Penn,*  in  adverting  to  this  subject, 
says:  w  It  has  been  supposed  that  during  the  se- 
venty years  while  William  Penn's  principles 
prevailed,  or  the  Quakers  had  the  principal 
share  in  the  government,  there  was  no  spot  on 
the  globe,  where,  number  for  number,  there  was 
so  much  virtue  or  so  much  true  happiness  as 
among  the  inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania;"  and  that 
(i  during  this  period  the  latter  country  exhi- 
bited (setting  aside  the  early  difficulties  of  a  new 
colony)  a  kind  of  little  paradise  upon  earth." 

Various  circumstances  combined  to  heighten 
the  enjoyment  of  the  society  of  Friends,  in  their 
first  settlement  in  this  country.  They  were  de- 
livered from  the  vexatious  persecution  of  their 

*  2  Vol.  page,  371, 


enemies;  they  felt  in  a  strange  land  the  protect- 
ing care  of  a  gracious  Providence,  and  by  perse- 
vering industry,  the  wilderness  became  fruitful 
fields  around  them.  They  rejoiced  in  hope, 
and  mingled  sympathies  in  recollections  of  the 
associations  of  their  youth.  Excluded  from  the 
attractions  or  exhibitions  of  those  occurrences, 
continually  arising  on  the  surface  of  redundant 
society,  they  sought  and  found  an  asylum  and 
satisfying  enjoyment  in  the  exercise  of  heart- felt 
devotion,  and  in  the  promotion  of  practical  righ- 
teousness. 

The  second  and  third  generation,  advanced 
in  the  progress  of  things,  under  other  trains  of 
circumstances.  They  had  not  felt  the  hand  of 
oppression:  their  views  were  limited  to  what 
they  saw  and  heard:  without  much  experience 
they  could  follow  in  the  path  opened  for  them, 
by  the  faithful  labour  of  their  fathers.  Having 
never  seen  any  other  situation  than  the  scenes 
around  them,  they  were  less  conscious  of  the 
value  and  importance  of  those  advantages  placed 
within  their  reach.  The  continual  increase  of 
mixed  foreign  population,  bringing  with  them 
their  manners  and  customs,  soon  made  the  new 
world  an  epitome  of  the  old. 

The  rising  youth  prone  to  imbibe  impressions 
and  views  which  lead  to  greatness  and  affluence* 


49 


are  liable  to  yield,  by  a  gradual  conformity,  to 
the  spirit  of  this  world,  which  fails  not  to  les- 
sen the  influence  of  devotion,  and  diminish  the 
weight  of  religious  obligation.  A  compromise 
between  principle  and  practice,  may  consist 
with  external  observance,  but  will  uniformly 
deaden  the  feeling,  and  disqualify  for  religious 
usefulness.  In  confirmation  of  this  view,  we 
may  refer  to  the  experience  and  testimony  of 
John  Smith  of  Marlborough,  an  aged  minister, 
as  recorded  in  John  Woolman's  Journal,  page 
173.  In  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  in  the  year  1764,  under  great  exercise  of 
spirit,  this  valuable  Friend  observed,  Ci  that  he 
had  been  a  member  of  the  society  sixty  years, 
and  well  remembered  that  in  those  early  times, 
Friends  were  a  plain  lowly  minded  people;  and 
that  there  was  much  tenderness  and  contrition 
in  their  meetings.  That  at  twenty  years  from 
that  time,  the  society  increasing  in  wealth,  and 
in  some  degree  conforming  to  the  fashions  of  the 
world,  true  humility  was  less  apparent,  and  their 
meetings  in  general  not  so  lively  and  edifying. 
That  at  the  end  of  forty  years,  many  of  them 
were  grown  very  rich;  that  wearing  of  fine  cost- 
ly garments,  and  using  watches  became  customa- 
ry with  them,  their  sons  and  their  daughters; 
and  many  of  the  society  made  a  specious  appear- 

7 


50 

ance  in  the  world;  which  marks  of  outward 
wealth  and  greatness  appeared  on  some  in  our 
meetings  of  ministers  and  elders;  and  as  these 
things  became  more  prevalent,  so  the  powerful 
overshadowings  of  the  Holy  Ghost  were  less 
manifest  in  the  society.  That  there  had  been  a 
continued  increase  of  these  ways  until  now;  and 
that  the  weakness  which  hath  now  overspread 
the  society,  and  the  barrenness  manifest  among 
us,  is  matter  of  much  sorrow."  At  the  same 
time  this  venerable  Friend  expressed  a  hope  or 
belief  "that  the  Lord  would  bring  back  his  peo- 
ple from  these  things  into  which  they  were  thus 
degenerated,  but  that  his  faithful  servants,  must 
first  go  through  great  and  heavy  exercises 
therein." 

About  this  period,  a  concern  appears  to  have 
been  raised  in  the  society,  to  check  the  current 
of  those  causes  producing  deadness  and  declen- 
sion. To  redeem  the  society  from  the  defile- 
ment of  holding  slaves,  and  to  guard  its  members 
against  taking  an  active  part  in  civil  government 
supported  by  the  sword,  were  objects  of  peculiar 
concern.  This  concern  ultimately  proved  in  a 
good  degree  successful.  The  difficulty  and  trou- 
bles produced  by  the  revolutionary  war,  pressed 
hard  in  many  instances  on  the  society,  and  purg- 
ed it  of  some  of  its  lukewarm  members,  tending 


51 


to  settle  others  more  firmly  on  the  immovable 
foundation,  and  perhaps  in  some  places  a  revival 
of  primitive  simplicity,  integrity,  and  feeling  was 
witnessed.  u  When  the  judgments  of  the  Lord 
are  abroad  in  the  earth)  the  inhabitants  thereof 
learn  righteousness." 

There  is  no  doubt  many  estimable  and  pidus 
individuals  fulfilled  the  labours  of  their  day  in 
the  bosom  of  this  society,  through  all  the  stages 
bf  its  progress,  and  there  are  at  the  present  time 
many  who  are  running  their  race  in  faith  and 
patience,  united  in  an  exercise  of  spirit  for  the 
more  general  prevalence  of  that  love,  charity, 
moderation,  forbearance,  and  consistent  walking, 
which  are  the  genuine  characteristics  of  the  gos- 
pel  of  Christ. 


53 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CAUSES  OF  THE  LATE  DISORDERS  IN  THE  SO- 
CIETY OF  FRIENDS,  WITHIN  THE  YEARLY 
MEETING,    HELD    IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

Whatever  may  appear  to  be  the  immediate 
cause  of  present  difficulties  and  disorder, 
deviation  from  the  leadings  and.  guidance  of 
the  fundamental  principle  of  the  society,  is  the 
true  and  real  cause.  We  have  seen  this  princi- 
ple leading  the  society  into  that  beautiful  and 
efficient  order,  that  hath  been  blessed  for  the 
help,  strength,  and  preservation  of  the  body  to 
the  present  time.  The  recent  disorders  that 
have  occurred  in  the  administration  of  disci- 
pline, must  have  sprung  from  a  different  root 
or  cause,  than  that  from  which  the  society 
took  its  rise.  If  we  take  a  review  of  the  soci- 
ety for  the  last  forty  years,  it  will  appear  that 
the  same  causes  which  produced  declension  in 
its  previous  stages,  have  been  operating  with 
accumulating  force. 

The  confederation  of  the  United  States  into  a 


54 


national  government,  paved  the  way  for  bring- 
ing  all  the  resources  and  energies  of  the  country 
into  active  operation,  and  opened  the  door  for 
general  commercial  intercourse.      The  subse- 
quent French  revolutionary  war  engrossing  the 
general  care  and  attention  of  Europe,  left  the 
United  States  in  the  almost  unrivalled  enjoyment 
of  lucrative  commerce.    Unexampled  prosperity 
for  many  years,  shed  its  radia  nee  on  the  United 
States,  enlightening  and  cheering  the  path  of 
every  class  of  citizens,  and  the  means  of  increas- 
ing wealth  were  placed  within  the  reach  of  al- 
most every  one.     The  society  of  Friends  was 
generally  in  a  position  to  share  in  the  public 
prosperity,  and  with  the  means  already  acquir- 
ed, many  by  successful  business  obtained  inde- 
pendent competence  and  wealth,  while  their  in- 
fluence and  power  were  advancing  in  religious 
society.     Wealth  and  power  entwine  themselv  es 
deeply  round  the  human  heart,  and  have  often 
involved  individuals  and  societies,  in  proceed- 
ings at  variance  with  their  own  principles. 

The  society  of  Friends,  by  a  long  course  of 
persevering  virtue,  justly  gained  a  respectable 
standing  in  the  world,  especially  in  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  the  original  settlers,  legislators,  and 
magistrates  of  the  colony.  They  have  generally 
patronized  virtuous  public  institutions?  obtained 


55 


the  confidence  of  their  fellow  citizens.,  and  even 
the  praise  of  enemies.  All  the  members  are  re? 
quired  to  be  of  respectable  deportment;  many 
of  them  are  rich  and  wealthy;  and  the  society  as 
a  body  has  accumulated,  by  the  donations  and 
legacies  of  individuals,  a  very  large  estate,  and 
under  these  circumstances  cannot  fail  to  have 
considerable  influence  in  the  public  community. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  the  high  character,  and 
respectable  standing  of  the  society,  have  proved 
a  snare  to  it.  Individuals,  without  coming  under 
the  power  of  the  cross,  may  have  become  mem- 
bers of  the  society  from  no  higher  motives  than 
a  love  of  popularity.  The  influence  of  the  repu- 
tation of  the  society,  acting  on  individuals  enga- 
ed  in  the  administration  of  the  discipline  upon 
offenders,  has  too  often  induced  them  to  look 
more  at  the  blot  brought  on  the  society,  than  to 
the  restoration  of  the  offender;  unwisely  suppos- 
ing that  the  infliction  of  the  penalty  obliterates 
the  stain,  more  than  turning  a  delinquent  from 
the  error  of  his  way  would  add  lustre  to  the 
virtue  and  efficacy  of  religious  principle.  Many 
exercised  minds  believe,  that  this  has  greatly 
tended  to  produce  a  superficial  zeal  in  unmodifi- 
ed tempers,  and  has  introduced  great  deadness 
and  spiritual  desolation  into  the  society. 

It  may  be  queried,  how  unmortified  tempers 


56 


have  come  to  bear  rule  in  a  society,  whose  prin- 
ciple is  spiritual,  and  whose  discipline  is  profess- 
ed to  be  administered  under  the  influence  of  the 
spirit? 

It  is  perhaps  by  degrees,  that  members  who  are 
not  qualified  come  to  busy  themselves  with  the 
spiritual  functions  of  discipline.  The  pecuniary 
concerns  of  the  society  of  course  devolve  on 
individuals  conversant  in  the  busy  scenes  of 
active  life.  Competent  external  knowledge  and 
circumstances,  are  thought  essential  qualifica- 
tions. These  qualifications  often  meet  in  indi- 
viduals deeply  engaged  in  the  pursuit  and  spirit 
of  the  world.  Success  in  extensive  concerns, 
clothes  the  agent  with  corresponding  importance. 
The  operation  of  his  will  and  power  becomes  ha- 
bitual. He  is  accustomed  to  take  the  lead, 
and  those  around  him,  to  obey.  Individuals 
thus  circumstanced,  clothed  with  all  the  respec- 
tability of  social  and  domestic  life,  coming  to  be 
entrusted  with  the  concerns  of  religious  society, 
can  hardly  fail  to  consider  themselves  of  impor- 
tance in  the  body.  In  the  direction  and  promo- 
tion of  the  interests  of  society,  the  same  policy 
will  naturally  be  preferred,  which  in  other  cases 
has  proved  successful.  Individuals  of  this  de- 
scription becoming  associated  for  years  in  the 
control  and  direction  of  the  affairs  of  the  society, 


57 


naturally  prefer  one  another.     The  expression 
of  their  opinions  or  sentiments  is  listened  to  with 
attention — they  are  appointed  on  business  of  im- 
portance; they  are  looked  up  to  with  defference, 
and  by  degrees  they  come  to  suppose  that  the 
welfare  of  the  society  depends  on  their  guardian 
care,  although  the  subjugation  of  the   natural 
temper  never  has  been  habitually  experienced. 
The  ardour  and  restiveness  of  such  individuals, 
will  be  in  proportion  as  their  importance  and 
standing   seem  to  be  affected;   and  hence,  we 
may  see  the  germinating  root  of  those  particular 
eauses  producing  the  unseemly  and  painful  dis- 
orders, that  have  lately  been  witnessed  in  the 
society. 

The  progress  of  a  superficial  and  overbearing 
spirit  has  deeply  exercised  many  faithful  minds 
who  have  been  removed  from  works  to  rewards. 
The  venerable  and  self  denying  Thomas  Scatter- 
good;  the  pious  and  philanthropic  William  Sa- 
very;  the  feeling  and  upright  Arthur  Howell, 
saw  in  their  days  of  probation,  the  current  and 
tide  of  those  causes  setting  in,  that  have  threat- 
ened to  overwhelm  the  living  with  the  dead, 
They  saw  with  painful  concern,  the  prevalence 
of  that  superficial  policy,  which  was  mingling 
itself  with  the  administration  of  the  affairs  and 

8 


58 


interests  of  the  society,  bringing  the  true  seed 
and  innocent  life  under  a  yoke  of  bondage. 

This  yoke  may  be  said,  to  use  a  familiar  figure, 
to  have  been  broken  by  the  multitude  of  rivets 
driven  in  to  strengthen  it.  The  event  seems  a 
mercy  to  all  concerned.  It  is  a  mercy  to  those 
individuals,  who,  in  their  eagerness  to  grasp  and 
hold  power,  have  often  repressed  and  crushed 
the  feelings  of  visited  children,  that  the  means  of 
injuring  themselves  by  oppressing  others,  are 
now  very  much  limited  and  circumscribed.  It 
is  a  mercy  to  those  who  have  been  "  grinding  as 
in  the  prison  house,"  that  enlargement  has  come 
by  the  over-ruling  power  of  Divine  Providence, 
setting  an  open  door  before  the  u  oppressed  in 
Israel,  and  gathering  the  dispersed  in  Judea." 
It  is  a  mercy  to  the  church  at  large,  affording  a 
renewed  evidence  that  the  "  Lord  reigneth;" 
and  that  his  mercy  and  goodness  still  embrace 
his  truth,  ministering  a  Way  for  it  in  the  earth. 

It  is  mortifying  and  humbling  to  recur  to  those 
public  disorders  that  have  marked  the  progress 
of  a  few  individuals,  who  have  risen  up  in  the 
bosom  of  the  society  of  Friends,  disturbing  the 
peace  and  unity  of  the  body,  and  so  far  interrupt- 
ing the  legitimate  operation  of  the  discipline,  as 
to  render  it  indispensible  for  the  society;  by  re- 


59 


currenee  to  first  principles,  to  re-organize  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsylvania, 
New  Jersey,  Delaware,  and  the  eastern  shore  of 
Maryland,  in  order  quietly  to  disentangle  itself 
from  those  incumbrances  which  had  obstructed 
the  proper  exercise  of  its  functions.  The  un« 
ceasing  misrepresentations  of  those  individuals, 
against  the  great  body  of  Friends,  render  this 
painful  task  necessary. 

A  late  declaration,  purporting  to  be  prepared 
in  a  meeting  for  sufferings  in  the  fourth  month 
last,  got  up  by  the  principal  actors  of  those  mea- 
sures which  have  produced  the  late  disorders 
and  commotions  in  the  Society,  seems  to  require 
that  a  true  statement  of  facts  should  be  exhibited, 
that  the  yearly  meeting  of  Friends  may  be  clear- 
ed from  the  defamatory  aspersions  of  those  indi- 
viduals, who,  for  years  past,  have  been  assuming  to 
themselves  unjustifiable  power  in  the  society,  and 
are  now  censuring  those  who  have  been  instru- 
mental in  the  hand  of  Providence,  to  rescue  it 
from  their  usurpation. 

As  far  as  appears,  the  first  public  manifestation 
of  disorder  connected  with  the  present  difficul- 
ties, occurred  in  a  monthly  meeting  held  at  Pine 
street,  where  Elias  Hicks  was  in  attendance  in 
the  tenth  month  1819.  After  having  relieved 
his  mind  in  the  men's,  he  asked  and  obtained  lib- 


60 

berty  to  visit  the  womens'  meeting.     In  his  ab- 
sence, the  mens'  meeting  adjourned,  although 
their  business  was  not  completed.     This  was  an 
uncommon  occurrence,  and  excited  considerable 
sensation  among  many  members  of  that  meeting. 
It  appears  to  have  been  done  by  a  few  influ- 
ential individuals  as  a  mark  of  disrespect  to  Elias 
Hicks;  or  rather,  it  exhibited  evidence  of  their 
resenting  the  application  of  his  testimony  respect- 
ing the  produce  of  slave  labour.     Speaking  on 
this  subject,  Elias  had  said  "there  were  some  who 
had  gone  retrograde,  some  who,  in  obedience  to 
the  clear  openings  of  the  light  of  truth  felt  bound 
to  deny  themselves  in  that  particular,   had  by 
giving  way  to  the  deeeivableness  of  unrighteous- 
ness, fallen  from  the  tenderness  of  feeling  once 
witnessed  so  far  as  again  to  use  without  restraint 
articles  produced  by  the  labour  of  slaves."     An 
influential  individual  of  that  meeting,  who  for 
twenty  years  had  abstained  from  the  use  of  the 
produce  of  slave  labour,  had  lately  discovered 
that  this  part  of  self-denial  had  been  taken  up  in 
his  own  will,  and  now  felt  so  irritable  on  the  sub- 
ject, as  to  take  great  offence  at  Elias  Hicks'  faith- 
ful testimony.     Hence  a  prejudice  against  Elias 
was  excited  in  the  mind  of  this  individual,  that 
became  the  spring  of  this,  and  many  other  un- 
seemly actions. 

Although    adjourning  the  meeting    in    the 


61 

absence  of  a  travelling  minister,  may  seem  a  tri- 
vial circumstance,  it  is  believed  to  have  been 
unprecedented  amongst  Friends.  It  exhibited 
a  marked  disrespect  to  a  stranger  engaged  with 
general  acceptance  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
— it  was  unkind  in  itself,  and  set  an  example  of 
insubordination  to  the  accustomed  relations  of 
society.  At  this  period  it  is  not  understood  that 
there  were  direct  charges  made  of  unsoundness 
against  Elias  Hicks.  There  were  murmurs  rais- 
ed and  whispered  against  the  close  character  of 
his  testimonies,  which  were  supposed  to  bear 
hard  on  particular  classes.  It  was  alledged  that 
his  practical  instruction  was  too  severe;  that 
he  was  too  much  in  advance  of  the  age;  and  that 
society  was  not  prepared  for  the  acceptation  of 
his  views. 

These  murmurs  and  whispers  appear  to  have 
been  encouraged,  and  cherished  by  those  indi' 
viduals  who  felt  themselves  rather  lessened  by 
the  light  of  his  testimonies  respecting  the  product 
of  slave  labour,  and  unwisely  lessened  themselves 
yet  more  in  the  eyes  of  their  brethren  by  an  in- 
judicious act  of  public  disrespect,  inconsistent 
with  Christian  kindness  and  comity. 

Previous  to  this  occurrence  Elias  Hicks  had 
for  many  years  made  full  proof  of  his  ministry, 
confirming  by  example  the  testimony  given  him 


62 

to  bear.  He  was  born  on  Long  Island,  in  the 
year  1748,  and  educated  in  that  plain  and  simple 
manner  which  was  customary  at  that  time  in  the 
society  of  Friends.  Faithful  to  the  unfoldings 
of  truth  in  his  own  mind,  his  understanding  be- 
came opened  in  its  light,  and  his  judgment  set- 
tled in  a  close  adherence  to  its  manifestations, 
which  by  degrees  qualified  him  to  comprehend 
the  workings  of  evil  in  many  of  its  mysterious 
forms,  and  to  stand  even  to  the  present  time  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  as  a  faithful 
watchman  on  the  walls  of  Zion,  notwithstanding 
the  united  exertions  of  erring  brethren  to  les- 
sen his  usefulness. 

The  next  disorderly  transaction  that  is  recol- 
lected, occurred  in  the  8th  Mo.  1822,  at  a  meet- 
ing for  sufferings.  A  number  of  the  members 
previously  requested  by  some  individuals,  who  in 
a  private  caucus  appear  to  have  resolved  on  the 
measure,  remained  in  conference,  when,  accord* 
ing  to  the  testimony  of  Abraham  Lower,  it  was 
stated  in  substance  by  Jonathan  Evans,  "that 
Elias  Hicks  had  obtained  from  his  Monthly  meet- 
ing a  certificate  to  visit  Friends  in  this  city,  and 
as  it  was  well  known  that  he  held  doctrines  that 
are  not  the  doctrines  of  Friends,  some  steps 
ought  to  be  taken  to  prevent  him  from  dissemi- 
nating them  among  us/?     This  vague  allegation 


63 


appears  by  the  letter  of  the  ten  elders  to  Ellas 
Hicks,  dated  12th  Mo.  19th,  1822,  to  have  been 
predicated  4on  the  representation,  of  Joseph 
Whithall,  arising  from  his  misconstruction  of  some 
expressions  of  Elias  Hicks  at  New  York  Yearly 
meeting  in  the  5th  Mo.  preceding.  "Detached 
sentences  may  be  taken  from  any  writer  or  speak- 
er, and  by  the  help  of  constructions  be  made  td 
convey  an  idea  altogether  different  from  that  in- 
tended by  the  writer  or  speaker.  If  we  would 
Understand  his  sentiments  we  must  take  into  view 
his  whole  design P  Upon  this  ex  parte  evidence, 
these  selected  members  of  the  meeting  for  suffer- 
ings agreed  to  act  as  if  Elias  Hicks  was  unsound^ 
and  appointed  a  committee  to  take  an  early  op- 
portunity with  him  on  his  arrival  in  the  city,  and 
it  was  advised  u  not  to  dispute  with  him,  for  he 
was  full  of  words,  but  in  a  prompt  way  put  a  stop 
to  his  travelling  in  the  ministry."  His  influence 
in  New  York  Yearly  meeting  was  said  to  be  so 
great  that  Friends  there  could  do  nothing  with 
him,  and  that  Friends  in  Philadelphia  could  only 
stop  him. 

At  a  period  of  Christian  society  enlightened  as 
the  present,  a  calm  review  of  this  transaction 
excites  blushes  for  humanity.  Here  we  see  a  man, 
venerable  for  his  age  and  experience,  and  who  has 
uniformly  sustaining  for  fifty  years  of  public  life  the 


64 


most  unexceptionable  character  and  reputation/ 
clandestinely  arraigned  before  self-appointed 
judges,  and  upon  the  most  vague  allegations, 
treated  as  an  offender  for  expressions  said  to  be 
uttered  three  months  before  in  his  own  Yearly 
meeting.  It  seems  as  if  those  persons  thought  that 
they  had  not  only  an  exclusive  right  to  judge 
and  act  for  the  society  of  Friends  in  Philadelphia, 
but  for  the  society  at  large;  and  that  they  were 
competent  to  achieve  what  no  other  department 
of  it  could  perform. 

Previous  to  Elias  Hicks'  entering  Philadelphia 
in  the  12th  Mo.  1824,  Ezra  Comfort,  and  Isaiah 
Bell,  who  were  in  attendance  with  him  at  the 
Southern  Quarterly  meeting,  conceived  excep- 
tions against  some  of  his  expressions,  much  in  the 
same  way  that  Joseph  Whithall  had  done,  which, 
with  the  help  of  a  little  imaginary  construction, 
made  the  appearance  of  a  formidable  charge. 
These  Friends  without  due  consideration,  or 
taking  a  seasonable  opportunity  with  Elias  Hicks, 
unwisely  communicated  their  apprehensions  to 
his  secret  accusers,  who  had  already  prejudged 
his  case.  This  additional  show  of  testimony  was 
laid  hold  of  with  avidity,  and  those  Friends 
drawn  into  great  perplexity  and  trouble,  by  put- 
ting their  signatures  to  a  written  representation, 
of  the  tendency  of  which  they  did  not  appear  to 


65 


be  fully  aware,  as  twenty  two  members  of  the 
southern  Quarter  subsequently  signed  a  correc- 
tion of  their  statement,  which  entirely  nullified 
the  charge  unkindly  drawn  from  them.  6i  When 
the  rulers  of  the  people  cause  them  to  err,77  the 
most  distressing  consequences  ensue.  When  these 
Friends  made  their  representations  to  &  favourite 
ruler,  instead  of  encouraging  them  to  violate  the 
discipline,  he  ought  to  have  directed  them  into 
the  path  of  gospel  order,  so  as  to  have  avoided 
those  unnecessary  afflictions,  which  this  circum- 
stance brought  on  them  and  their  families. 

Soon  after  Elias  Hicks  arrived  in  the  city,  to 
proceed  on  a  visit  to  the  families  of  Green  street 
Monthly  meeting,  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  private  conference  in  the  8th  Mo.,  waited 
on  him  with  a  representation  of  the  charges  against 
him.  Elias  denied  their  authority  to  question 
him,  but  upon  their  telling  him  they  came  in 
love  as  brethren,  he  was  willing  to  answer  them, 
and  after  a  free  intercourse,  they  went  away 
apparently  satisfied.  Whatever  the  report  of 
the  committee  was,  the  principals  in  this  prose- 
cution were  not  to  be  diverted  from  their  pur- 
pose. To  give  some  colour  and  weight  to  their 
proceedings,  nearly  all  the  elders  in  the  city 
were  summoned  to  meet  as  in  an  official  capacity, 
and  no  doubt  they  hoped  their  victim  was  sure. 

9 


66 


They  requested  an  interview  with  Elias  Hicks, 
who  denied  their  authority,  and  declined  meet- 
ing them,  but  was  ready  to  produce  certificates 
expressive  of  the  unity  and  concurrence  of  his 
Monthly  and  Quarterly  meetings  with  him  in  his 
present  service,  which  had  been  furnished  him 
according  to  the  established  order  of  society;  yet 
in  condescension  to  some  of  his  particular  Friends, 
he  afterwards  agreed  to  meet  the  elders  in  Green 
street  meeting  house,  on  the  5th  day  succeeding. 
Considering  the  uncommon  proceedings  of  the  el- 
ders, Elias  deemed  it  expedient  to  have  witnesses 
present  to  hear  the  charges  made  against  him,  and 
to  produce  testimony  should  it  appear  necessary 
to  repel  the  accusation.  John  Comly,  Robert 
Moore,  John  Moore,  John  Hunt,  and  others,  ac- 
companied him  on  the  occasion;  some  of  whom 
had  been  at  the  Southern  Quarter,  and  could 
give  direct  evidence  in  the  case.  This  reason- 
able and  wise  step  on  the  part  of  Elias  Hicks 
entirely  frustrated  the  present  intentions  of  his 
opposers.  The  principal  promoters  of  this  mea- 
sure appear  to  have  been  appalled  at  the  light 
of  the  countenances  of  honest  and  upright  men. 
They  could  not  take  any  step  in  their  presence. 
Under  pretence  that  the  meeting  was  not  select, 
they  declined  all  friendly  conference,  and  ab- 
ruptly left  the  house,  alledging  that  t£  ministers 


were  amenable  to  the  elders.''"     It  is  understood 
that  witnesses  were  in  waiting  to  be  called  in  to 
support  the  charges  to  be  made  against  Elias,  and 
then,  it  is  believed,  the  elders  were  to  give  judg- 
ment against  him  without  permitting  defence  or 
respite.     They  were  not  to  reason  with  him,  for 
he  was  full  of  words,  but  roundly  to  charge  and 
give  judgment,  vainly  supposing  that  their  opi- 
nion had  the  power  and  force  of  law,  and  would 
in  future  incapacitate  him  to  travel  in  the  minis- 
try.    All  these  devices  failed  to  make  any  im- 
pression on  Elias  Hicks.  They  openly  showed  the 
weakness  and  imprudence  of  those  who  had  set 
themselves  against  him.     How  unwise  and  unjus- 
tifiable for  a  few  individuals  to  arrogate  to  them- 
selves all  the  power  of  the  society,  and  pretend 
to  disqualify  a  member  of  another  Yearly  meeting? 
having  in  his  possession  the  regular  certificates 
of  his  own  meeting,  approbatory  of  his  religious 
service. 

The  following  are  the  written  communications 
between  the  elders  and  Elias  Hicks,  accompanied 
by  the  certificate  of  twenty  two  members  of  the 
Southern  Quarter  in  relation  thereto,, 


63 


Letter  from  the  Ten  Elders  to  Elias  Hicks. 

To  Elias  Hicks, 

Friends  in  Philadelphia  having, 
for  a  considerable  time  past,  heard  of  thy  holding 
and  promulgating  doctrines  different  from,  and 
repugnant  to  those  held  by  our  religious  society, 
it  was  cause  of  uneasiness  and  deep  concern  to 
them,  as  their  sincere  regard  and  engagement  for 
the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  truth,  made  it  very 
desirable  that  all  the  members  of  our  religious 
Society  should  move  in  true  harmony,  under  the 
leading  and  direction  of  our  Blessed  Redeemer: 
upon  being  informed  of  thy  sentiments  expressed 
by  Joseph  Whitall:  that  Jesus  Christ  was  not 
the  Son  of  God,  until  after  the  Baptism  of  John, 
and  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  he 
was  no  more  than  a  man;  that  the  same  power 
that  made  Christ  a  Christian  must  make  us  Chris- 
tians; and  that  the  same  power  that  saved  him 
must  save  us;  many  Friends  were  much  affected 
therewith,  and  some  time  afterwards,  several 
Friends  being  together  in  the  city  on  subjects 
relating  to  our  religious  Society,  they  received 
an  account  from  Ezra  Comfort,  of  some  of  thy 
expressions  in  the  public  general  meeting  imme- 
diately succeeding  the  Southern  Quarterly  meet- 


69 

irig  lately  held  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  which 
was  also  confirmed  by  his  companion  Isaiah  Bell: 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  the  first  man  that  introdu- 
ced the  Gospel  dispensation,  the  Jews  being  un- 
der the  outward  and  ceremonial  law  or  dispensa- 
tion, it  was  necessary  that  there  should  be  some 
outward  miracle,  as  the  healing  of  the  outward 
infirmities  of  the  flesh,  and  raising  the  outward 
dead  bodies,  in  order  to  introduce  the  Gospel 
dispensation;  he  had  no  more  power  given  him 
than  man,  for  he  was  no  more  than  man;  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  healing  of  the  soul,  for 
that  belongs  to  God  only;  Elisha  had  the  same 
power  to  raise  the  dead;  that  man,  being  obedient 
to  the  Spirit  of  God  in  him  could  arrive  at  as 
great,  or  greater  degree  of  righteousness,  than 
Jesus  Christ;  that  Jesus  Christ  thought  it  not 
robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,  neither  do  I  think 
it  robbery  for  man  to  be  equal  with  God;  then 
endeavoured  to  show  that  by  attending  to  that 
stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  or 
the  seed  in  man,  it  would  make  man  equal  with 
God,  saying,  for  that  stone  in  man  was  the  entire 
God.  On  hearing  which,  it  appeared  to  Friends 
a  subject  of  such  great  importance,  and  of  such 
deep  interest  to  the  welfare  of  our  religious  So- 
ciety, as  to  require  an  early  extension  of  care, 
in  order,  that  if  any  incorrect  statement  had  been 


70 


made.,  it  should  as  soon  as  possible  be  rectified., 
or  if  true,  thou  might  be  possessed  of  the  painful 
concern  of  Friends,  and  their  sense  and  judgment 
thereon.  Two  of  the  Elders  accordingly  waited 
on  thee  on  the  evening  of  the  day  of  thy  arriving 
in  the  city,  and  although  thou  denied  the  state- 
ment, yet,  thy  declining  to  meet  these  two  El- 
ders in  company  with  those  who  made  it,  left  the 
minds  of  Friends  without  relief:  one  of  the  El- 
ders who  had  called  on  thee,  repeated  his  visit 
on  the  next  day  but  one,  and  again  requested 
thee  to  see  the  two  Elders  and  the  Friends  who 
made  the  above  statements,  which  thou  again 
declined.  The  Elders  from  the  different  Month- 
ly meetings  in  the  city  were  then  convened,  and 
requested  a  private  opportunity  with  thee,  which 
thou  also  refused,  yet  the  next  day  consented  to 
meet  them  at  a  time  and  place  of  thy  own  fixing; 
but  when  assembled,  a  mixed  company  being 
collected,  the  Elders  could  not  in  this  manner 
enter  into  business  which  they  considered  of  a 
nature  not  to  be  investigated  in  any  other  way 
than  in  a  select  private  opportunity;  they  there- 
fore considered  that  meeting  a  clear  indication 
of  thy  continuing  to  decline  to  meet  the  Elders, 
as  by  them  proposed.  Under  these  circumstan- 
ces it  appearing  that  thou  art  not  willing  to  hear 
and  disprove  the  charges  brought  against  thee, 


71 


we  feel  it  a  duty  to  declare,  that  we  cannot  have 
religious  unity  with  thy  conduct,  nor  with  the 
doctrines  thou  art  charged  with  promulgating. 
Signed,  12th  Mo.  19th,  1822. 

Caleb  Pierce, 
Leonard  Snowden, 
Joseph  Scattergood, 
Samuel  P.  Griffitts, 
T.  iStewardson, 
Edward  Randolph, 
Israel  Maule, 
Ellis  Yarnall, 
Richard  Humphries, 
Thomas  Wis  far. 


Elias  Hicks'*  Letter  to  the  foregoing  Ten  Elders. 

To  Caleb  Pierce  and  the  other  Friends, 

Having  been  charged  by  you  of 
unsoundness  of  principle  and  doctrine,  founded 
on  reports  spread  among  the  people  in  an  un- 
friendly manner,  and  contrary  to  the  order  of 
our  discipline,  by  Joseph  Whitall,  as  stated  in 
the  letter  from  you  dated  the  19th  inst.;  and  as 
these  are  charges  not  literally  true,  being  found- 
ed on  his  own  forced  and  improper  construction 
of  my  words,  I  deny  them;  and  as  I  do  not  con- 
sider myself  amenable  to  him,  or  any  other,  for 


72 


crimes  laid  to  my  charge  as  being  committed  in 
the  course  of  the  sitting  of  our  last  yearly  meet- 
ing, as  not  any  of  my  fellow  members  of  that 
meeting  discovered  or  noticed  any  such  things, 
which  I  presume  not  to  be  the  case,  as  not  an 
individual  has  mentioned  any  such  thing  to  me, 
but   contrary    thereto,   many   of  our    valuable 
Friends  (who  had  heard  some  of  these  foul  reports 
promulgated  by  an  individual  of  our  city)  ac- 
knowledged the  great  satisfaction  they  had  with 
my  services  and  exercises  in  the  course  of  that 
meeting,  and  were  fully  convinced,  that  all  these 
foul  reports  were  false;  and  this  view  is  fully  con- 
firmed by  a  certificate  granted  me  by  the  month- 
ly and  quarterly  meetings  of  which  I  am  a  mem- 
ber, in  which  they  express  their  full  unity  with 
me,  and  which  meetings  were  held  a  considera- 
ble time  after  our  yearly  meeting,  in  the  course 
of  which  Joseph  Whitall  has  presumed  to  charge 
me  with  unsoundness,  contrary  to  the  sense  of 
the  yearly,  quarterly  and  monthly  meetings  of 
which  I  am  a  member,  and  to  whom  only  I  hold 
myself  amenable  for  all  conduct  transacted  within 
their  limits.      The   other   charges  against  me 
made  by  Ezra  Comfort,  as  expressed  in  your 
letter,  are  in  the  general  incorrect,  as  is  proved 
by  the  annexed  certificate;  and  moreover  as  Ez- 
ra Comfort  has  departed  from  #nspel  order  in 


73 


hot  mentioning  his  uneasiness  to  me  when  present 
with  me,  and  when  I  could  have  appealed  to 
Friends  of  that  meeting  to  have  justified  me, 
therefore  I  consider  Ezra  Comfort  to  have  acted 
disorderly  and  contrary  to  discipline  5  and  these 
are  the  reasons  that  induced  me  to  refuse  a  com- 
pliance with  your  requisitions,  as  considering 
them  arbitrary  and  contrary  to  the  established 
order  of  our  Society. 

(Signed) 

E.  Hicks, 
Philadelphia,  12  mo.  21,  1822. 


Letter  from  Three  Members  of  the  Southern 
Quarterly  Meeting,  concerning  Elias  Hicks* 

We  the  undersigned  being  Occasionally  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  when  a  letter  was  produced 
and  handed  us,  signed  by  ten  of  its  citizens,  El- 
ders of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  directed  to 
Elias  Hicks;  after  persuing  and  deliberately  con- 
sidering the  charges  therein  against  him,  for 
holding  and  propagating  doctrines  inconsistent 
with  our  religious  testimonies,  and  more  especial- 
ly those  said  by  Ezra  Comfort  and  Isaiah  Bell, 
to  be  held  forth  at  a  meeting  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  late  Southern  Quarterly  Meeting, 
and  we  being  members  of  the  Southern  quarter, 

10 


74 


and  present  at  the  said  meeting,  we  are  free  to 
state,  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  first  mentioned 
Friends,  and  all  others  whom  it  may  concern, 
that  we  apprehend  the  charges  exhibited  by  the 
two  Friends  named,  are  without  substantial  foun- 
dation; and  in  order  to  give  a  clear  view,  we 
think  it  best  and  proper  here  to  transcribe  the 
said  charges  exhibited,  and  our  own  understand- 
ing of  the  several,  viz.   e£  That  Jesus  Christ  was 
the  first  man  that  introduced  the  Gospel  Dispen- 
sation,  the  Jews  being  under  the  outward  and 
ceremonial  law  or  dispensation,  it  was  necessary 
there  should  be  some  outward  miracles,  as  heal- 
ing the  outward  infirmities  of  the  flesh,  and  rais- 
ing the  outward  dead  bodies,  in  order  to  intro- 
duce the  gospel  dispensation;"  this  in  substance 
is  correct.    "  That  he  had  no  more  power  given 
him  than  man,"  this  sentence  is  incorrect;  and 
also,  "  That  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  heal- 
ing of  the  soul,  for  that  belongs  to  God  only,"  is 
likewise  incorrect;  and  the  next  sentence  "  That 
Elisha  also  had  the  same  power  to  raise  the  dead" 
should  be  transposed  thus  to  give  Elias's  expres- 
sions.    "  By  the  same  power  it  was  that  Elisha 
raised  the  dead."     "That  man  being  obedient 
to  the  spirit  of  God  in  him  could  arrive  at  as 
great  or  greater  degree  of  righteousness    than 
Jesus  Christ,"  this  is  incorrect,    "That  Jesus 


75 


Christ  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with 
God,"  with  annexing  the  other  part  of  the  para- 
graph mentioned  by  the  holy  apostle  would  be 
correct.  "Neither  do  I  think  it  robbery  for 
man  to  be  equal  with  God,"  is  incorrect.  "  Then 
endeavouring  to  show  that  by  attending  to  that 
stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands  or 
the  seed  in  man,  it  would  make  man  equal  with 
with  God,"  is  incorrect;  the  sentence  for  that 
stone  in  man  should  stand  thus.  "  That  this  stone 
or  seed  in  man  had  all  the  attributes  of  the  divine 
nature  that  was  in  Christ  and  God."  This  state- 
ment and  a  few  necessary  remarks  we  make  with- 
out comment,  save  only  that  we  were  then  of 
opinion  and  still  are,  that  the  sentiments  and 
doctrines  held  forth  by  our  said  friend  Elias 
Hicks,  are  agreeable  to  the  opinions  and  doc- 
trines held  by  George  Fox  and  other  worthy 
Friends  of  his  time. 
12  mo.  21,  1822. 

(Signed) 

Robert  Moore, 
Thomas  Turner, 
Joseph  G.  Rowland, 


76 


Letter  from  the  Ten  Elder  a  to  Elias  Hicks, 

Philadelphia,  1  mo.  4,  1823, 
To  Elias  Hicks, 

On  the  perusal  of  thy  letter  of 
the  21st  of  last  month,  it  was  not  a  little  affecting 
to  observe  the  same  disposition  still  prevalent  that 
avoided  a  select  meeting  with  the  Elders,  which 
meeting  consistently  with  the  station  we  are 
placed  in  and  with  the  sense  of  duty  impressive 
upon  us,  we  were  engaged  to  propose  and  urge 
to  thee  as  a  means  wherein  the  cause  of  uneasiness 
might  have  been  investigated,  the  Friends  who 
exhibited  the  complaint  fully  examined,  and  the 
whole  business  placed  in  a  clear  point  of  view. 

On  a  subject  of  such  importance  the  most  ex- 
plicit candour  and  ingenuousness,  with  a  readi- 
ness to  hear  and  give  complete  satisfaction  ought 
ever  to  be  maintained;  this  the  Gospel  teaches, 
and  the  nature  of  the  case  imperiously  demanded 
it.  As  to  the  Certificate  which  accompanied  thy 
letter,  made  several  weeks  after  the  circumstances 
occurred,  it  is  in  several  respects,  not  only  vague 
and  ambiguous,  but  in  others  (though  in  different 
terms)  it  corroborates  the  statement  at  first  made. 
When  we  take  a  view  of  the  whole  subject,  the 


77 


doctrines  and  sentiments  which  have  been  pro- 
mulgated by  thee,  though  under  some  caution 
while  in  this  city;  and  the  opinions  which  thou 
expressed  in  an  interview  between  Ezra  Comfort 
and  thee,  on  the  19th  ult.  we  are  fully  and  sor- 
rowfully confirmed  in  the  conclusion,  that  thou 
holds  and  art  disseminating  principles  very  dif- 
ferent from  those  which  are  held  and  maintained 
by  our  religious  society. 

As  thou  hast  on  thy  part,  closed  the  door 
against  the  brotherly  care  and  endeavours  of  the 
elders  here  for  thy  benefit,  and  for  the  clearing 
our  religious  profession,  this  matter  appears  of 
such  serious  magnitude,  so  interesting  to  the 
peace,  harmony,  and  well  being  of  society,  that 
we  think  it  ought  to  claim  the  weighty  attention 
of  thy  Friends  at  home. 

(Signed) 

Ellis  Yarnall, 
Thomas  Wistar, 
Leonard  Snowdon, 
Joseph  Scattergood, 
Caleb  Peirce, 
Samuel  P.  Griffits, 
Thomas  Stewardson, 
Edward  Bandolph, 
Israel  Maule, 


78 


Being  present  when  the  foregoing  Letter  was 
concluded  on,  I  unite  with  the  concern  and  care 
of  my  brethren  the  Elders  of  this  city,  that  our 
religious  Society  might  not  be  under  the  impu- 
tation of  holding  doctrines  which  do  not  accord 
with  the  testimony  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Jonathan  Evans. 


Letter  from  Twenty- two  Members  of  the  South- 
ern Quarterly  Meeting,  concerning  Elias 
Hicks. 

We  the  subscribers,  being  informed  that  cer- 
tain reports  have  been  circulated  by  Ezra  Com- 
fort and  Isaiah  Bell,  that  Elias  Hicks  had  propa- 
gated unsound  doctrine,  at  our  general  meeting 
on  the  day  succeeding  our  quarterly  meeting 
in  the  11th  month  last,  and  a  Certificate  signed 
by  Robert  Moore,  Joseph  Turner,  and  Joseph 
G.  Rowland,  being  read,  contradicting  said  re- 
ports, the  subject  has  claimed  our  weighty  and 
deliberate  attention,  and  it  is  our  united  judg- 
ment, that  the  Doctrines  preached  by  our  said 
Friend  on  the  day  alluded  to,  were  the  Truths 
of  the  Gospel;  and  that  his  labours  of  love  amongst 
us  at  our  particular  meetings,  as  well  as  at  our 
said  quarterly  meeting,  were  united  with  by  all 
our  members,  for  aught  that  appears. 


79 

And  we  believe  that  the  Certificate  signed  by 
the  three  Friends  above  named,  is  in  substance  a 
correct  statement  of  facts. 

Elisha  Dawson,         George  Messeck, 
William  Dolby,  William  W.  Moore, 

Walter  Mifflin,         John  Cogwill, 
Daniel  Bowers,  Samuel  Price, 

William  Levick,        Robert  Kemp, 
Elias  Janell,  John  Turner, 

Jacob  Pennington,     Hart  field  Wright, 
Jonathan  Tivibond,  David  Wilson, 
Henry  Swiggitt,        Michael  Lowber, 
Michael  Offley,  Jacob  Liventon, 

James  Brown,  John  Coivgill,  Junr. 

Little  Creek,  2  mo.  26th,  1823. 


.  I  hereby  Certify,  that  I  was  at  the  Southern 
Quarterly  Meeting  in  the  11th  month  last,  but 
owing  to  indisposition,  I  did  not  attend  the  ge- 
neral meeting  on  the  day  succeeding,  and  having 
been  present  at  several  meetings  with  Elias 
Hicks,  as  well  as  at  the' Quarterly  Meeting  afore- 
said, I  can  testify  my  entire  unity  with  the  doc- 
trines I  have  heard  him  deliver. 

Jlnthony  Whitely, 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ORIGIN    AND    DUTIES   OF    ELDERS    IN    THE    SOCI* 

ETY  OF  FRIENDS ORTHODOX  PARTY  FORMED, 

AND     ENDEAVOUR    TO    INTRODUCE     A     CREED 
INTO    THE    SOCIETY. 

To  sustain  the  proceedings  of  the  elders  against 
Elias  Hicks,  considerable  stress  has  been  laid  by 
some  on  their  official  character.  Let  us  recur 
to  the  history  of  elders  in  the  society.  From  a 
review  of  the  records  of  the  select  meeting  within 
the  limits  of  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting?  it  ap- 
pears that  in  1701?  a  meeting  of  ministers  was 
held  for  the  mutual  encouragement?  strength;, 
and  comfort  of  one  another,  and  continued  to  be 
held  every  three  months  for  several  years,  with- 
out the  company  of  elders  or  any  disciplinary 
powers.  In  1706?  apprehending  a  benefit  might 
arise  from  a  few  judicious  Friends  sitting  with 
the  ministers  in  those  meetings?  the  proposal  was 
laid  before  the  Yearly  Meeting?  but  was  not  con- 
curred with  at  that  time.  In  1709  and  also  in 
1712  the  proposal  for  elders  appears  to  have  been 

11 


carried  up  from  Concord  Quarter  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  but  the  consideration  was  postponed. 
In  1714,  the  Yearly  Meeting  agreed  to  the  nom- 
ination of  elders  by  such  meetings  as  were  pre- 
pared for  the  measure,  and  made  some  regula- 
tions thereon.  That  no  misunderstanding  might 
occur  respecting  the  elders,  Concord  Quarterly 
Meeting  made  a  minute  permitting  them  to  ex-* 
press  their  feelings  in  those  opportunities.  In 
1728,  further  regulations  and  advices  were  sent 
down  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  to  the  Quarters 
on  this  subject,  and  in  1755  the  state  and  condi- 
tion of  select  meetings  being  more  fully  consider- 
ed by  the  Yearly  Meeting,  nine  queries  were 
sent  down  to  be  answered  in  the  select  Prepara- 
tive meetings  and  carried  up  to  the  Quarters,  and 
thence  to  the  Yearly  Meeting. 

At  this  time  Monthly  Meetings  were  encoura- 
ged to  appoint  two  or  more  elders  in  their  seve- 
ral meetings:  but  it  was  some  time  before  all 
were  brought  into  the  practice.  In  viewing  the 
present  discipline  respecting  select  meetings,  it 
does  not  appear  that  elders  have  any  more  power 
than  ministers'  mutual  exhortation  is  all  that  is 
enjoined  in  the  discipline.  u  We  kindly  recom- 
mend faithful  Friends,  and  especially  ministers 
and  elders,  to  watch  over  the  flock  of  Christ  in 
their  respective  places  and  stations,  always  ap- 


83 


proving  themselves,  by  their  pious  example  hi 
conversation  and  conduct,  to  be  such  as  faithfully 
and  diligently  walk  up  to  the  testimony  of  the 
blessed  truth  whereunto  the  Lord  hath  gathered 
us  in  this  his  gospel  day."* 

The  legitimate  duties  of  elders  in  a  society 
constituted  as  that  of  Friends,  appear  to  be,  the 
necessary  care  in  holding  meetings  for  worship; 
seasonably  closing  the   meeting    at  the  proper 
time;  and  extending  such  care  to  Friends  travel- 
ling in  the  ministry,  as  to  aid  and  assist  them  in 
the  appointment  of  meetings,  for  the  furtherance 
of  their  religious  services.     It  never  was  intend- 
ed by  Monthly  Meetings  to  vest  in  the  elders  an 
exclusive  authority  to  judge  the  ministry.     This 
is  the  virtual  and  exclusive  power  of  the  Monthly 
Meeting  itself.    The  discipline  has  wisely  guard- 
ed against  the  encroachment  of  select  members 
or  meetings.     u  None  of  the  said  meetings  of 
ministers  and  elders  are  in  anywise  to  interfere 
with  the  business  of  any  meeting  for  discipline," 
(Page  67, ) 

With  these  facts  before  us,  it  is  obvious  that 
elders  have  no  official  powers  beyond  the  limits 
of  their  own  Monthly  Meeting,  as  the  represen- 
tatives of  which  they  are  to  perform  such  ser- 

*  Book  of  Discipline— -Article,  Ministers  and ■E-ldetfs* 


vices  as  from  time  to   time  may  be   required  of 
them.   (Page  63.)     The  association  of  the  elders 
of  five  Monthly  Meetings,  was  therefore  wholly 
illegal  as  it  relates  to  their  functions  as  elders. 
It  was  a  voluntary  association   in   which   they 
could  not  bring  into  action  any  thing  more  than 
their  own  private  opinion.  How  unconstitutional 
and  illegal  then  was  it,  for  these  individuals  to 
oppose  the  order  of  the  society,  by  forming  them- 
selves into  an  assumed  tribunal  to  try  Elias  Hicks, 
on  floating    rumor,   in  relation  to   declarations 
made  within  the  limits  of  his  own  Yearly  Me  eti ng. 
Although   these  measures  were   harmless   as 
respects   Elias  Hicks,  they  were  the  beginning 
of  troubles  to  the  Yearly    Meeting  of  Friends 
held  in  Philadelphia.     Whatever  might   have 
been  the   motive  of    these  persons,  a  number 
of  whom  were  always  considered  innocent  and 
inoffensive  men,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  the 
transaction  itself  has  produced  all  the  effects  of  a 
conspiracy  against  the  order  and  peace  of  society. 
It  exhibited  the  lineament  of  that  party  who  have 
for  several  years  been  struggling  for  the  entire 
control  of  the  society,  and  have  at  last  so  over- 
done their  part  as  to  exclude  themselves  from 
its  bosom.     We  have  seen  the  first  public  disor- 
der arising  from  private  prejudice  against  Elias 
Hicks.     The  gratification  of  this  prejudice  be- 


85 


ihg  frustrated,  the  unrelenting  and  unbending 
temper  of  four  or  five  individuals,  (who  are  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  prime  movers  in  direct- 
ing those  disorganizing  measures  that  have  pro- 
duced so  much  painful  disorder,)  stimulated  them 
to  increasing  exertions,  not  only  to  destroy  Elias 
Hicks's  public  character,  but  to  lay  waste  the 
standing  of  all  who  would  net  join  with  them  in 
their  hue  and  cry  of  unsoundness. 

From  this  period  may  be  dated  the  regular 
organization  of  a  party  to  decry  Elias  Hicks,  and 
proclaim  unsoundness.     Active  exertions  were 
made  to  draw  the  innocent  and  unwary  into  the 
snares  of  this  party.  Private  meetings  were  call- 
ed by  the  elders,  where  the  measures  pursued 
against  Elias  Hicks,  and  the  papers  of  charges 
against  him,  were  gravely  exhibited;  and  in  some 
instances  they  were  carried  from  house  to  house^ 
all   for    the    express    purpose    of    criminating 
him  and   justifying    themselves:    thus    endea- 
vouring to  cover  one  error  in  conduct  by  com- 
mitting another.     The  progress  of  this  state  of 
things  became  painfully  trying  and  exercising  to 
many  Friends,  who  earnestly  discouraged  the 
promotion  of  party  feeling,  and  were  disposed  to 
pass  by  the  occurrence  if  the  elders  would  let 
the  matter  rest.     Unhappily  for  them,  and  the 
peace  of  society,  the  prime  movers  and  active 


86 

agents  of  these  party  measures,  persevered 
with  unremitting  zeal,  not  only  in  their  own 
justification,  but  in  censuring,  and  treating 
with  indifference  and  disrespect,  those  who 
could  not  countenance  a  system  of  studied  slan- 
der, and  consequent  proscription  and  division 
in  the  society.  An  advancement  in  party  mea- 
sures produced  its  native  fruit,  great  bitterness 
of  spirit,  destroying  Christian  love  and  social 
enjoyment,  and  laying  waste  the  unity  and  har- 
mony of  religious  society.  Designing  individu^ 
als,  aspiring  to  become  the  chiefs  of  their  party.* 
or  determined  to  support  the  dignity  of  their 
sires,  were  assiduously  employed  in  writing  and 
spreading  anonymous  publications,  the  cunning 
sophistry  and  subtle  declamation  of  which  tended 
to  mislead  the  minds  of  the  unwary,  to  foment 
discord,  and  fan  into  a  flame  the  unmeaning  war 
of  conflicting  prejudices,  connected  with  non- 
essential opinions.  These  writers  seemed  ambi- 
tious to  engraft  on  the  themes  of  their  controversy 
anew  phraseology,  and  individuals  in  their  pub- 
lic communications  entwined  certain  mysterious 
views  and  expressions,  u  which  dazzled  but  to 
blind."  In  many  instances  the  ministry  was  pros- 
tituted to  the  exhibition  of  party  views,  and  the 
most  virulent  declamation  was  indulged  in  against 
all  who  could  not  for  conscience  sake  depart  from 


the  simplicity  of  the  truth,,  or  mingle  with  those 
self-willed  views  intended  to  please  a  certain  de- 
scription of  men. 

In  the  progress  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1823 
the  advancement  of  party  measures  in  a  systema- 
tic public  manner,  began  to  be  more  fully  deve- 
loped. The  accusers  of  Elias  Hicks  had  found 
by  experience,  that  their  power  was  limited,  and 
in  order  to  strengthen  their  hands,  and  make 
their  way  more  easy,  a  design  appears  to  have 
been  conceived  to  introduce  into  the  society  a 
standard  of  theological  opinions,  or  in  other 
words,  a  creed  of  doctrines  like  other  professing 
Christians.  As  this  was  a  delicate  subject,  in  a 
society  which  had  always  borne  a  testimony 
against  human  creeds,  great  address  was  requi- 
site to  bring  this  measure  into  effect.  The  Meet- 
ing for  Sufferings  was  deemed  the  most  efficient 
medium  through  which  to  accomplish  this  desira^ 
ble  object.  The  minutes  of  that  meeting  were  uni- 
formly read,  and  approbated,  or  adopted  in  the 
Yearly  Meeting:  and  it  was  no  doubt  supposed 
j  that  if  the  substance  of  a  creed  could  be  insidi- 
ously embraced  in  those  minutes,  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  its  customary  condescension  might 
pass  the  whole,  and  then  the  favourite  document 
would  be  established. 

Among  the  subjects  that  claimed  the  attention 


88 


of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  1823,  were  cer- 
tain anonymous  controversial  essays  on  theological 
subjects,  over  the  signature  of  Paul  and  Amicus^ 
printed  in  a  periodical  paper  at  Wilmington,  in 
Delaware,  which  do  not  appear  to  have  had  any 
direct  connexion  with  the  society  of  Friends,  but 
were  merely  the  sentiments  of  individuals,  for 
whom  no  religious  society  was  responsible  in  that 
capacity,  the  author  of  the  essays  vindicating 
the  doctrines  of  Friends,  having  stated  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  work  as  follows,  viz,  ".  And 
now  I  wish  to  be  distinctly  understood,  that  as 
my  labours  have  been  purely  voluntary,  so  if 
in  any  case,  I  have  in  the  least  misrepresented 
the  doctrines  of  our  society,  the  blame  ought  to 
fall  exclusively  on  Amicus,  who  only  is  responsi- 
ble for  the  sentiments  expressed  in  his  essays." 
To  correct  the  supposed  aberrations  of  this  un- 
known writer,  appears  to  have  become  a  grave 
concern  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings;  and  in  the 
fulfilment  of  this  service  they  found  a  fit  oppor- 
tunity to  insert  on  their  minutes  the  substance 
of  a  favourite  creed  for  the  acceptance  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting.  It  is  understood,  many  judi- 
cious members  in  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  were 
entirely  averse  to  any  recognition  of  the  con- 
troversy alluded  to,  or  to  taking  any  notice  of  it 
on  their  minutes.     But  power,  and  the  means  of 


89 


obtaining  it,  being  preferred  to  unity  and  con- 
cord, this  favorite  measure  was  persevered  in, 
but  promptly  rejected  by  the  Yearly  Meeting. 

Considerable  pains  have  been  taken  to  produce 
an  impression,  that  no  creed  was  intended  by  the 
adoption  of  this  document.  But  what  can  be 
more  manifest,  from  the  whole  train  of  circum- 
stances connected  with  its  progress  up  to  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  than  that  the  promoters  of  this 
measure  confided  in  it,  as  a  standard  to  aid  and 
assist  them  in  their  present  purposes,  and  in  fu- 
ture to  become  binding  on  the  society  as  a  test  of 
doctrine.  The  arguments  adduced  in  the  Yearly 
Meeting  for  the  support  of  the  step  taken  on 
this  subject,  dismissed  all  doubts  respecting  the 
views  of  its  promoters.  It  was  strongly  urged 
u  that  a  society  without  principles  was  a  non- 
entity," &c.  the  obvious  conclusion  from  which 
was,  if  therie  was  any  application  in  the  argu- 
ment, that  as  a  visible  society  we  must  have  a 
visible  standard."  Well  may  the  language  of  the 
apostle  to  the  Galatians,  be  adopted,  "  Having 
begun  in  the  spirit  are  ye  now  made  perfect  by 
the  flesh!"  We  have  seen  the  society  of  Friends 
progressing  through  several  generations,  without 
claiming  any  written  creed.  They  have  con- 
stantly craved  the  guidance  of  that  Divine  spi- 
rit, a  measure  or  manifestation  of  which  is  given 

12 


90 


to  all,  to  aid  and  assist  them  in  their  religious  ex- 
ercises in  the  worship  of  God,  and  to  qualify 
rightly  to  maintain  the  rules  of  gospel  order  or 
Christian  discipline  in  relation  to  one  another. 
Consistently  with  this  fundamental  principle,  the 
society  of  Friends  never  can  adopt  written  rules 
of  Faith.  It  would  be  receding  from  a  rock,  to 
lay  a  foundation  on  a  volcano,  which,  according 
to  the  progress  of  its  component  elements,  must 
sooner  or  later  explode. 


91 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ORTHODOX  PARTY  PURSUING  MEASURES  TO  SH™ 
PARATE  THEMSELVES  FROM  THE  SOCIETY  OF 
FRIENDS- — UNCOMMON  OCCURRENCES  IN  THE 
WESTERN   MEETING, 

The  unequivocal  decision  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, respecting  the  doctrinal  views- couched  in 
the  minutes  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  did 
not  deter  the  authors  from  the  unwearied  prose- 
cution of  their  designs  for  subjecting  the  society 
to  their  direction  and  control.  They  had  alrea- 
dy succeeded  in  organizing  a  party,  and  hence- 
forth a  line  of  entire  discrimination  was  to  be  ex- 
tended through  all  the  different  meetings,  so  as 
gradually  to  occupy  every  active  station  by  those 
under  their  particular  influence.  If  overseers 
or  clerks  were  to  be  renewed  in  any  of  the  meet- 
ings, every  exertion,  combined  with  the  most 
unbending  determination  to  carry  their  object, 
was  practised.  As  Friends  were  passive  or  sub- 
mitted for  peace  sake,  these  individuals  advanced 
in  systematizing  their  power,  and  in  most  of  the 


92 


meetings  in  the  city  obtained  the  active  ascend- 
ancy;  although  it  is  confidently  believed  they 
were  by  far  the  minor  part  in  the  different 
meetings. 

Confiding  in  their  own  importance,  and  in  that 
official  strength  which  they  from  time  to  time 
acquired  in  the  city  meetings,  by  forcing  their 
measures  contrary  both  to  the  principles  and 
practice  of  Friends,  these,  individuals  under  the 
assumption  of  orthodoxy  considered  themselves 
in  their  different  allotments  to  be  u  the  meet- 
ings.51' In  particular  meetings  composed  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  or  one  hundred  and  fifty 
families,  the  individuals  of  this  party  assumed 
to  be  "the  meeting.7'  In  Monthly  and  Quarterly 
Meetings,  as  well  as  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  these 
still  appropriated  to  themselves  the  title  of  H  the 
meeting."  Consistently  with  this  assumption  the 
general  body  of  Friends  became  excluded  from 
their  counsels,  and  were  not  to  be  named  on  any 
business  of  importance  nor  entrusted  with  any 
service  in  society,  which  might  interrupt  the 
progress  of  their  power.  Faithful  members 
who  stood  upright,  and  bore  a  testimony  against 
the  progress  of  systematic  declension  from  the 
principle  and  practice  of  Friends,  were  not  only 
treated  with  disrespect  and  contumely,  but  were 
actually  proscribed,  and  in  some  instances  frivo- 


93 


Ious  charges  were  made  and  slight  offences  dis> 
torted  and  magnified  into  sufficient  importance 
to  procure  their  disownment. 

The  exclusion  of  Friends;  by  the  orthodox 
party,  from  places  of  trust,  was  a  preliminary 
step  to  the  disfranchisement  of  so  many  of  them 
as  might  be  necessary  to  intimidate  and  over- awe 
the  rest,  and  upon  the  ruins  of  the  rights  and 
reputation  of  their  fellow-members,  more  firmly 
to  found  their  own  darling  power  and  domina- 
tion. But  the  result  has  not  answered  expectation: 
schemes  of  selfish  policy  have  sunk  beneath  their 
own  weight.  Truth  endureth  forever. 

It  would  be.  unpleasant  to  advert  to  all  the 
party  measures  pursued  by  those  called  orthodox 
in  the  city  meetings,  to  crush  their  fellow-mem- 
bers, and  more  fully  establish  their  own  power. 
A  few  instances  of  uncommon  procedure  in  the 
Western  meeting  will  be  noticed.  In  the  1st 
mo.  1825,  the  elders  introduced  into  the  Prepa- 
rative Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  a  charge 
of  unsoundness  against  Elias  Hicks,  with  a  view 
to  obtain  the  sanction  of  that  meeting  to  intro- 
duce the  case  into  the  Monthly  Meeting.  On 
deliberate  consideration  it  was  thought  a  case  not 
belonging  to  that  Meeting.  No  case,  in  fact,  had 
been  made  out.  It  was  only  the  construction  of 
individuals,  who  might  have  a  right  to  their  own 


94 


views,  but  could  not  consistently  attempt  any 
legal  process  against  a  member  of  another  Yearly 
Meeting  in  his  absence.  It  was  earnestly  re- 
commended, to  dwell  in  patience  in  relation  to 
the  subject,  and  cherish  moderation  and  charity 
towards  one  another,  and  faith  and  confidence  in 
the  Head  of  the  church,  who  would  in  due  time 
find  ways  and  means  to  correct  wrong  things. 

This  view  of  the  subject  appeared  to  be  con- 
curred with,  yet  one  of  the  elders  introduced  the 
subject  to  the  next  Monthly  Meeting,  on  his  own 
responsibility,  without  any  regard  to  the  conclu- 
sion or  unity  of  the  Preparative  Meeting  of  Min- 
isters and  Elders.  It  may  be  asked  if  this  was 
consistent  in  itself,  or  if !  it  accorded  with  the 
known  practice  of  society?  It  was  setting  at 
nought  the  judgment  and  conclusion  of  the  Pre- 
parative Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders.  It 
was  moving  in  disunity  in  a  new  case,  not  pro- 
perly cognizable  by  either  of  the  meetings. 
Every  step  was  marked  with  disorder,  division, 
and  desolation  of  every  good  feeling.  The 
Monthly  Meeting  being  unexpectedly  called  to 
the  consideration  of  the  subject,  and  the  case 
being  new,  under  the  plausible  pretence  of  in- 
quiry, a  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate 
its  merits.  The  result  was,  the  greater  propor- 
tion of  the  committee  sustained  the  allegations  of 


95 


the  elders,  three  of  whom  being  members  of  the 
committee,  were  thus  virtually  made  judges  in 
their  own  cause.  The  report  was  improperly 
entered  upon  the  minutes  in  the  way  of  informa- 
tion, but  it  was  not  acceptable  to  the  meeting. 
Strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  direct  a  copy  of 
the  report  to  Jericho  Monthly  Meeting:  but  the 
clerk  at  that  time  had  too  much  integrity  to  pro- 
ceed any  further  in  the  case,  against  the  judg- 
ment of  so  many  active  members.  While  the  re- 
port was  under  consideration  an  occurrence  took 
place,  which  clearly  exhibited  the  temper  of  the 
promoters  of  this  measure.  Israel  Yarnall  who 
had  formerly  been  a  member  of  the  Western, 
and  then  belonged  to  the  Northern  District 
Monthly  Meeting,  being  in  attendance  felt  free- 
dom to  express  his  opinion  respecting  the  subject 
of  the  report,  in  the  following  words:  "  If  it  be 
understood  by  the  report, — rifit  set  forth  and 
declare,  that  Elias  Hicks,  the  last  time  he  was  in 
this  house,  preached  doctrines  contrary  to  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  contrary  to  our  first  or 
primitive  Friends,  being  present  at  that  time,  I 
stand  here  as  a  witness  that  it  is  utterly  false." 
This  declaration  acted  like  an  electrical  shock 
on  the  minds  of  the  elders  and  a  few  others,  se- 
veral rising  simultaneously  to  put  him  down. 
Their  excitement  produced  not  only  unbecoming 


96 

disorder  in  the  meeting,  but  induced  two  of  the 
elders  to  make  complaint  to  the  overseers  of  the 
North  meeting  against  Israel,  for  the  liberty  he 
had  taken  of  expressing  his  opinion:  and  they  en- 
tering into  the  views  of  the  elders  procured  his 
disownment  by  the  orthodox  party  in  that  Month- 
ly Meeting;  but  Israel  appealing  to  the  Quarter- 
ly Meeting  was  reinstated  without  a  dissenting 
voice. 

This  was  certainly  an  uncommon  case.  From 
the  first  rise  of  the  society,  a  free  intercourse  in 
the  exercise  of  Christian  fellowship  had  always 
obtained.  Strangers  have  uniformly  been  encour- 
aged to  express  their  feelings  and  sentiments  in 
meetings  for  business;  agreeably  to  the  Book  of 
Advices,  page  39:  "  In  order  to  unite  us  more 
nearly  one  to  another  as  members  of  the  same 
body,  and  to  strengthen  each  other's  hands  in  pro- 
moting the  cause  of  truth,  it  is  recommended  that 
Friends  stand  open  to  the  leadings  Of  the  love  of 
God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord;  and  when  in 
that,  they  feel  their  minds  drawn  to  sit  with  any  of 
their  neighbouring  Monthly  or  Quarterly  Meet-; 
ings,  that  they  attend  thereto,  and  that  such 
meetings  as  are  so  visited,  receive  such  in  the 
same  love,  and  not  look  upon  them  as  intruders: 
thus  mutual  help  will  be  given  and  received 
amongst  us."     It  may  be  asked,  wherein  was  the 


97 


offence  in  the  present  case?  Here  was  a  Friend? 
who  had  lately  been  a  member  of  the  Western 
meeting,  well  known  to  be  practically  consistent 
with  the  principles  of  the  society,  simply  giving 
his  views  in  a  calm  and  deliberate  manner,  on  an 
essay  of  a  report  submitted  to  the  deliberation  of 
the  meeting,  and  which  contained  the  views  of 
only  a  few  individuals  couched  in  ambiguous  lan- 
guage, implying  a  general  charge  against  Elias 
Hicks  without  specification  or  proof;  which  re- 
port the  meeting  at  that  time  was  not  prepared  to 
adopt.    The  reporters  say:  "We  apprehend  Elias 
Hicks  expressed  sentiments  inconsistent  with  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  religious  principles  that 
our  society  has  held  from  its  first  rise;"  but  do  not 
state  what  those  sentiments  were,  nor  advance  any 
evidence  to  sustain  their  apprehensions*     Well 
light  the  friend  qualify  this  declaration  with  the 
^nark.     u  If  the  report  intended  to  say,"  &c 
that  he  as  a  witness  could  give  his  testimony  to  the 
contrary.  But  suppose  an  offence  had  been  com- 
mitted by  the  Friend's  expression,  it  must  have 
been  against  the  Monthly  Meeting.     The  meet- 
ing did  not  censure  the  Friend.  It  took  no  cogni- 
zance, nor  gave  any  direction  in  the  case.  He  was 
in  the  exercise  of  an  accustomed  privilege,  un- 
der the  protection  of  the  meeting.  Whence  was  it 
then,  that  any  two  or  three  members  could  take 

13 


98 

all  the  power  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  into  their 
own  hands,  and  pursue  this  Friend  to  disown- 
ment?  It  was  undoubtedly  on  the  principle  of 
exclusive  power,  or  that  of  a  few  orthodox  mem- 
bers considering  themselves  "the  meeting."  The 
tender  and  feeling  mind  perceived  that  this  trans- 
action was  a  precursor  to  the  prostration  of  the 
independence  of  the  Western  meeting. 

Had  these  occurrences  been  only  the  effect  of 
immediate  excitement,  compassion  for  the  weak- 
nesses and  infirmities  of  humanity  would  plead 
an  excuse:  but  when  we  see,  year  after  year, 
the  causes  of  disorder  reduced  to  a  system  of 
action,  the  actors  must  in  the  view  of  all  rea- 
sonable men  be  responsible  for  the  consequence. 

On  the  10th  of  1st  mo.  1827,  a  renewed  evi- 
dence was  exhibited  of  the  deep  rooted  prejudice 
against  Elias  Hicks  remaining  in  the  minds  of 
his  Philadelphia  accusers.     In  the  course  of  a 
religious  visit,  with  the  unity  and  approbation  of 
his  meetio,gs  at  home,  according  to  the  order  of 
society,  he  attended  the  Western  meeting  on 
the  afternoon  of  first-day,  which  was  crowded 
to  overflowing,  principally  owing  to  the, objec- 
tions raised  against  him  by  his  unceasing   oppo- 
nents, and  partly  to  the  public  opposition  made 
to  him  in  Pine  street  meeting  in  the  morning. 
An  impression  appears  to  have  been   made  on 


99 


the  public  mind  that  Elias  Hicks  was  to  be  put 
down.  The  novelty  of  such  an  occurrence  among 
a  people  always  remarkable  for  their  peaceable 
principles  and  demeanor,  could  not  fail  to  draw 
a  large  concourse  to  the  meeting.  Although  the 
meeting  was  so  exceedingly  crowded,  and  form- 
ed of  such  a  variety  of  character,  it  maintained 
the  accustomed  appearance  of  propriety  and 
quiet  attention  during  the  silent  part,  and  while 
Elias  was  speaking,  whose  discourse  appeared  to 
give  general  satisfaction.  After  he  sat  down, 
one  of  the  elders,  evidently  with  the  design  of 
opposing  Elias  Hicks,  attempted  to  give  his  views 
of  what  the  society  believed.  This  immediately 
excited  a  general  murmur,  overcoming  the  speak- 
er's voice,  and  producing  considerable  unsettle- 
ment.  Elias  rose  and  with  entreaty  quieted  the 
minds  of  the  audience,  and  after  a  short  commu- 
nication from  Willet  Hicks  the  meeting  conclu- 
ded. 

On  fourth-day  following  in  the  Western  Prepa- 
rative Meeting,  the  elder  whose  communication, 
as  has  been  stated,  disturbed  the  meeting  of  first- 
day  afternoon,  under  considerable  excitement  de- 
clared, "  that  he  went  to  meeting  with  his  life  in 
his  hand  to  bear  a  testimony  for  his  Saviour,"  and 
strongly  urged  the  necessity  of  inquiring  into  the 
cause  of  the  late  disorderly  meeting,  insinuating 


100 


that  it  was  the  effect  of  design.  A  committee 
of  inquiry,  consisting  of  this  elder  and  others 
favourable  to  his  views,  was  appointed  in  the 
Monthly  Meeting,  who  reported,  "  that  a  large 
and  disorderly  concourse  of  people  were  brought 
together,  at  an  unseasonable  hour,  and  under  cir- 
cumstances that  strongly  indicated  a  design  to 
pre-occupy  the  house  to  the  exclusion  of  most  of 
the  members  of  our  meeting,  and  to  suppress  in 
a  riotous  manner  any  attempt  that  might  be  made 
to  maintain  the  doctrines  and  principles  of  our 
religious  society,  in  opposition  to  the  views  of 
Elias  Hicks."  The  committee  moreover  ex- 
press a  belief,  uthat  the  doctrines  and  sentiments 
of  Elias  Hicks  greatly  tend  to  the  subversion  of 
sound  religious  principles,  and  of  the  wholesome 
restraints  of  moral  and  domestic  discipline." 

From  the  elder's  own  declaration,  and  from 
the  report  of  the  committee  it  is  acknowledged 
to  have  been  a  settled  measure  to  oppose  Elias 
Hicks,  under  the  pretence  of  "  maintaining  the 
doctrines  and  principles  of  our  religious  society." 
In  addition  to  the  above  acknowledgments,  the 
facts  connected  with  this  subject,  that  transpi- 
red in  the  other  meeting  manifest  a  previously 
settled  plan  of  public  opposition  to  Elias  Hicks 
by  those  called  orthodox.  It  may  be  asked  what 
right  these  individuals  had  to  enter  into  such  an 


101 


arrangement?  Is  there  any  discipline  to  warrant 
such  an  undertaking?  The  letter  as  well  as  the 
spirit  of  discipline,  expressly  forbids  such  pro- 
ceedings. It  was  again  secretly  conspiring  against 
the  order  and  peace  of  society.     It  was  a  pre- 
meditated violation  both  of  the  principle  and 
practice  of  the  society,  in  disturbing  the  public 
worship,  by  attempting  to  introduce  party  views, 
wholly  inappropriate  and  unconnected  with  any 
thing  previously  said.     It  Was  introducing  the 
will  of  man,  into  what  the  society  always  consi- 
dered to  belong  to  the  agency  of  the  spirit.     It 
was  certainly  the  most  distinct  specimen  of  Ran- 
terism  that  has  occurred  of  latter  time.     How 
affecting  to  every  sober  mind,  to  see  menformerly 
esteemed  by  many  as  of  great  moral  worth,  sacri- 
ficing their  reputation   and  usefulness    at  the 
shrine  of  inveterate  prejudice!     But  although 
these  individuals  were  in  the  fault,  they  were  the 
first  to  make  complaint,  and  endeavoured  to  fix 
the  odium  of  their  own  measures  on  others.    We 
have  already  seen  that  their  previous  doings  ex- 
cited public  attention,  and  they  were  undoubt- 
edly the  operative  cause  of  bringing  such  num- 
bers to  see  and  hear  Elias  Hicks;  and  if  they  at- 
tempted in  their  own  will  to  enforce  an  assumed 
power,  is  it  any  wonder  that  they  should  have 
fallen  under  the  murmurs  of  a  discerning  public? 


102 


With  what  propriety  could  the  disturbance  be 
attributed  to  Elias  Hicks?  How  was  it  possible 
he  could  influence  the  public  to  follow  him? 
What  plan  could  be  effective  to  bring  together 
so  many  individuals,  to  act  as  they  did?  The 
assembly,  stimulated  by  the  common  propensity 
of  curiosity  in  the  human  mind,  came  to  see  and 
to  hear  for  themselves,  and  they  acted  as  they 
did,  by  the  excitement  of  the  moment;  and  if 
the  opposers  of  Elias  Hicks  had  been  awakened 
to  their  true  situation  they  might  have  seen  their 
own  doings  correcting  them,  and  their  backsli- 
dings  reproving  them! 

Not  satisfied  with  attributing  the  fruits  of 
their  own  doings  to  the  doctrines  and  senti- 
ments of  Elias  Hicks,  the  orthodox  party  in 
the  Western  meeting,  were  now  determined 
to  enforce  their  views,  and  in  the  name  of  the 
meeting  toadopt  the  report  and  direct  it,  (in 
conjunction  with  the  former  report  that  had 
been  placed  on  the  minute,  two  years  before,) 
to  be  forwarded  to  Jericho  Monthly  Meeting,  as 
matter  of  charge  against  Elias  Hicks.  These 
double  charges  were  futile  and  unavailing  in  re- 
gard to  their  object.  They  fell  harmless  at  the 
feet  of  Elias  Hicks — but  the  violence  with  which 
they  were  sent  forth,  shook  the  Western  Month- 
ly Meeting' to  its  foundation.     Those  called  or- 


103 


thodox,  having  now  obtained  a  clerk  to  suit 
their  own  views,  did  not  hesitate  to  trample 
upon  the  judgment  of  one  half  of  the  meeting,  to 
gratify  their  zeal  and  strengthen  their  power  in 
the  prosecution  of  their  settled  designs.  This 
could  not  be  done,  but  by  entirely  abandoning 
the  principles  of  our  religious  association.  The 
society  always  professed  to  rest  on  love,  as  a 
principle,  and  on  unity  or  concurrence  as  a  mode 
of  action.  Both  were  dispensed  with  in  this  case. 
A  part  of  the  meeting,  acting  under  feelings  of 
opposition  against  Elias  Hicks,  forcibly  introdu- 
ced a  case  wholly  irrelevant  to,  and  unconnect- 
ed with  the  regular  business  of  the  Monthly 
Meeting.  There  is  no  discipline  whatever  that 
authorizes  the  entering  of  the  name  of  a  person, 
a  member  of  another  Yearly  Meeting,  on  the 
minutes  of  a  Monthly  Meeting,  or  which  can 
in  such  a  case,  sanction  a  judgment  against  him 
in  his  absence.  Such  a  practice  would  lay 
waste  all  order  and  consistency.  It  is  at  variance 
with  every  principle  of  justice  and  equity. 

The  subject  matter  preferred  against  Elias 
Hicks,  accusing  him  of  holding  "  sentiments  in- 
consistent with  the  scriptures,  and  the  princi- 
ples of  Friends,"  was  only  the  apprehension  of 
some  individuals,  who  were  as  liable  to  receive 
wrong  impressions  as  others,  and  who  could  not 
with  any  propriety  or  justice  enforce  their  views 


104 

as  a  iinal  standard.  We  have  already  seen  that 
the  object  of  discipline  was  to  regulate  the  prac- 
tice of  the  members,  but  not  to  interfere  with  the 
subject  of  faith.  In  consonance  with  the  quota- 
tion given  from  William  Penn  on  this  subject, 
(page  )  in  his  preface  to  Robert  Barclay's 
works,  he  says:  "  We  never  assumed  to  ourselves 
a  faith  or  worship- making  power.  Our  case  is 
plain  order,  not  articles  of  faith:  and  the  disci- 
pline, of  government,  not  of  worship."  The 
proper  province  of  discipline,  then,  regards  order 
and  practice,  and  not  articles  of  faith,  or  judg- 
ing of  its  soundness  toward  God. 

It  may  be  asked,  what  rule  of  discipline  Elias 
Hicks  had  broken?  He  came,  in  the  love  of  the 
gospel  and  in  the  order  of  society,  to  visit  the 
churches.  What  offence  did  he  commit,  that 
his  service  should  have  been  interrupted?  If  he 
opened  views  that  might  be  new  to  some,  they 
were  only  offered  in  gospel  affection,  for  consi- 
deration— none  were  compelled  to  embrace  them. 
Truth  is  more  powerful  than  error,  why  then 
should  any  be  afraid  of  free  inquiry?  Why  should 
it  be  attempted  to  limit  the  convictions  of  truth, 
or  restrain  liberty  of  conscience?  We  have  seen, 
that  the  society  purchased  this  liberty  with  its 
blood.  How,  then,  can  any  now,  turn  round  to 
their  brethren  and  say,  <*  Thus  far  have  we  gone, 


105 


and  no  further  may  we  go.  Our  apprehensions 
are  a  legal  standard,  by  which  to  try  and  judge 
thy  opinions."  Would  not  this  reverse  the  rule 
of  doing  to  others  as  we  would  they  should  do 
unto  us?  Would  it  not  cancel  the  bond  of  Chris- 
tian union,  and  lay  a  foundation  for  that  spirit  of 
intolerant  domination,  which  would  effectually 
suppress  the  energies  of  the  society,  and  hence- 
forth frustrate  its  usefulness? 

But  had  the  charge  preferred  against  Elias 
Hicks,  in  the  Western  Monthly  Meeting,  been 
admissible,  the  decided  opposition  to  its  progress 
stood  as  an  insurmountable  barrier  to  any  legal 
decision  on  it.  The  clerk  of  a  meeting  is  ap- 
pointed to  serve  the  whole  meeting,  and  not  a 
part  only.  Where  a  new  case  is  introduced,  and 
half  of  the  meeting  is  not  prepared  to  act,  it  is 
evidently  the  duty  of  the  clerk  to  suspend  the 
case  until  a  concurrent  decision  can  take  place. 
Where  no  concurrence  can  be  obtained  such 
new  ease  ought  to  be  dismissed.  The  exercise 
of  a  coercive  power,  in  the  administration  of  the 
discipline,  over  the  consciences  of  any  part  of  a 
meeting,  never  can  be  justified  on  any  principle 
recognised  by  the  society.  Whenever  it  takes 
place,  it  must  be  the  effect  of  party  excitement 
and  mere  human  power.  Let  us  reverse  the 
case,  and  suppose  that  the  moderate  part  of  the 

14 


106 


Western  Monthly  Meeting,  had  proposed  and 
insisted  upon  making  a  minute  approving  of  Elias 
Hicks's  service,  and  in  opposition  to  the  judg- 
ment of  their  brethren,  had  actually  forwarded 
a  copy  of  such  a  minute  to  Jericho  Monthly 
Meeting.  This  would  not  have  been  a  new  case. 
It  would  have  accorded  with  the  common  prac- 
tice of  society.  What  would  have  been  the  feel- 
ings of  the  other  part  under  these  circumstances? 
Would  they  not  have  said  it  was  an  assu- 
med coercive  power;  that  it  was,  on  the  part  of 
the  cjerk,  a  violation  of  every  obligation  connect- 
ed with  that  station;  and  that  the  messenger, 
carrying  such  a  document  to  Jericho  Monthly 
Meeting,  bore  in  his  hand  an  entire  misrepre- 
sentation?— ie  Happy  is  he  that  condemneth  not 
himself  in  that  thing  which  he  alloweth." 

There  was  no  disposition,  on  the  part  of 
Friends,  to  take  any  step  in  the  case.  They 
wished  to  maintain  the  accustomea  relations  of 
society,  without  intermedling  with  subjects  not 
properly  concerning  them.  They  were  not  dis- 
posed to  act  on  the  current  of  floating  opinions. 
They  conceived  that  no  question  respecting  doc- 
trines was  properly  before  them.  They  wished 
to  preserve  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  meet- 
ing, by  dismissing  those  extraneous  questions, 
which  naver  could  be  acted  upon  in  unity,  nor 


107 


tend  to  the  edification  of  the  members.  The 
Monthly  Meeting  is  the  executive  part  of  society 
respecting  the  conduct  or  practice  of  members: 
but  it  is  not  authorized  to  legislate  on  matters  of 
faith,  to  circumscribe  liberty  of  conscience,  nor 
to  interfere  with  private  opinions,  while  the  de- 
portment is  consistent  with  fundamental  princi- 
ples. But  sentiments  such  as  these,  appeared  to 
be  treason  in  the  view  of  the  orthodox  party; 
and  for  inculcating  them,  a  Friend  was  denounced 
as  a  defender  of  infidelity.  The  minds  of  some 
of  the  leaders  of  this  party,  seemed  indeed  to  be 
so  heated  with  a  misguided  zeal,  as  to  consider 
every  moderate  member  unsound,  and  as  having 
no  right  to  be  heard,  nor  was  any  attention  paid 
to  the  united  judgment  of  those  who  dissented 
from  the  measure. 


1 


109 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CAUSES   OF   DIVISION    IN    PHILADELPHIA    QUAR- 
TERLY  MEETING. 

The  city  meetings  being  more  or  less  involved 
in  the  operation  and  effects  of  dividing  causes, 
Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting  could  not  be 
expected  to  escape  from  their  general  influence, 
as  its  active  members  were  principally  from  the 
city  meetings. 

The  whole  strength  of  those  calling  themselves 
orthodox,  was  brought  to  bear  on  Green  street 
Monthly  Meeting  through  the  medium  of  the 
Quarterly  meeting,  although  the  former  meeting 
had  given  no  just  cause  for  hostility  against  it? 
by  the  infraction  of  any  rule  of  discipline. 
The  offence  of  that  meeting  consisted  in  having 
received  a  visit  from  Elias  Hicks  in  their  fami- 
lies, in  the  12th  mo.  1822,  and  in  having  endor- 
sed his  certificate,  with  an  expression  of  unity 
and  satisfaction  with  his  services  in  that  visit. 
All  this  was  undoubtedly  within  the  limits  of  the 
rights  of  any  Monthly  Meeting.     That  worthy 


110 


Friend  came  in  the  order  of  society,  with  certi- 
ficates of  the  unity  of  his  Monthly  and  Quarterly 
Meetings;  and  no  valid  objection  appearing,  he 
performed  the  service  to  general  acceptance. 
It  will  be  recollected  that  it  was  at  this  time 
that  the  association  of  the  city  elders  attempted 
to  interrupt  the  service  of  Elias  Hicks,  but 
failed  to  accomplish  their  purpose.  From  that 
period,  in  their  eagerness  to  regain  their  power, 
they  appear  to  have  entertained  an  unquencha- 
ble jealousy,  not  only  against  the  professed  friends 
of  Elias  Hicks,  but  against  all  who  would  not 
implicitly  support  their  views  and  measures. 
They  felt  that  their  influence  and  power  were  at 
stake,  and  appear  unhappily  to  have  determined 
that  these  must  be  supported,  whatever  might  be 
the  consequence.  It  is  believed,  however,  that 
such  an  impression,  although  a  natural  fruit 
of  their  indiscreet  rashness,  was  in  a  great  mea- 
sure groundless.  There  was  no  disposition  on 
the  part  of  the  great  body  of  Friends  to  censure 
these  elders  with  severity.  Had  they  returned 
with  cordiality  to  the  accustomed  relations  of 
society,  the  whole  transaction  would  have  been 
passed  over,  and  soon  forgotten.  Bnt  the  morti- 
fication of  defeat,  seemed  to  awaken  every  energy 
to  pursue  a  selfish  course,  which  evidently  has 
placed  them  in  a  position  very  different  from  that 


Ill 


which  they  anticipated,  and  which  probably  was 
less  acceptable  to  their  feelings  than  any  which 
they  had  imagined — that  of  being  left  to  them- 
selves. 

When  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  was 
endorsing  Elias  Hicks?s  minute,  some  alteration 
being  proposed,  an  elder  of  that  meeting  so  far 
concurred  with  the  minute,  as  to  say  that  he 
"  thought  it  would  do.??  Yet  after  witnessing 
the  unity  of  the  meeting,  and  thus  concurring 
with  it,  this  elder  joined  with  the  others  in  wri- 
ting and  signing  a  paper  already  alluded  to,  im- 
peaching the  gospel  ministry  of  Elias  Hicks.  In 
consequence  of  this  injudicious  step,  this  elder, 
after  some  time,  was  taken  under  care  by  the 
overseers  of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting; 
many  of  the  members  of  said  meeting  being  un- 
easy with  his  having  acted  in  his  official  capacity 
in  opposition  to  the  expressed  sense  of  his  own 
meeting,  of  which,  as  we  have  seen,  he  was  fully 
apprized,  The  object  in  taking  him  under  the 
care  of  the  meeting,  through  the  medium  of  the 
overseers,  was  to  induce  hirn  to  make  such  expla- 
nations or  concessions  to  the  meeting,  as  might 
satisfy  all  that  he  was  in  unity  with  it.  Being, 
however,  a  respectable  person,  and  generally  belo- 
ved, very  little  explanation  would  have  been  neces- 
sary to  satisfy  his  friends.  But  perhaps  influenced 


112 


or  directed  by  his  coadjutors,  lest  they  also  should 
come  under  censure,  this  elder  declined  the  au- 
thority of  the  overseers  in  what  he  called  his 
official  duty  as  an  elder,  and,  through  the  medi- 
um of  Green  street  Preparative  Meeting  of  Mi- 
nisters and  Elders,  requested  assistance  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders, 
in  a  case  of  difficulty.  The  official  duty  of 
elders  has  been  noticed  in  Chapter  VII,  and 
consists  in  attending  to  such  service  as  the 
Monthly  Meeting  may  from  time  to  time  point 
out;  and  certainly,  it  could  form  no  part  of  that 
service  to  counteract  the  expressed  sense  and 
judgment  of  the  meeting. 

The  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  El- 
ders appointed  a  committee  to  give  such  assist- 
ance to  Green  street  Preparative  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  as  might  seem  to  be  neces- 
sary. Being  a  member  of  this  committee,  the 
writer  of  this  work  had  an  opportunity  of  wit* 
nessing  the  progress  of  this  transaction,  and 
deeply  regretted  the  injudicious  and  unconstitu- 
tional measures  pursued.  When  the  committee 
met  with  Green  street  Preparative  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  no  specific  case  of  difficul- 
ty was  stated,  although  it  was  .apparent  that 
some  misunderstanding  existed.  It  appeared  to 
be  expected,  on  the  part  of  the  elder  taken  under 


113 


the  care  of  the  overseers,  that  his  fellow  members 
of  the  Select  Meeting  would  accuse  him  before 
the  committee.  They  however  simply  stated  their 
submission  to  the  request  of  assistance,  for  the 
relief  of  the  Friend  proposing  it,  without  having 
any  thing  further  to  say  on  the  subject.  Part  of 
the  committee  strongly  urged  the  members  of  the 
meeting,  freely  to  express  what  they  had  against 
each  other,  that  they  might  understand  the  whole 
case  and  give  assistance  accordingly.  Another 
part,  however,  believed  that  if  the  meeting  had 
no  specific  difficulty  before  them,  the  committee 
ought  not  to  make  one,  and  that  all  inquisitorial 
proceedings  to  create  difficulty,  were  inconsistent 
with  the  duties  of  the  committee.  At  last  the 
elder  under  care,  mentioned  that  the  overseers 
of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  had  visited 
him  for  having  signed  the  paper  against  Elias 
Hicks,  an  act  which  he  had  done  in  his  official 
capacity,  and  which  he  had  believed  it  his  duty  to 
do;  and  that,  as  one  of  the  overseers  was  an  elder, 
he  considered  the  proceeding  against  him,  as  an 
infringement  of  the  rights  of  the  Select  Meetings, 
and  seemed  to  suppose  he  was  not  amenable  to  the 
overseers  for  his  actions  as  an  elder.  With  this 
view  several  of  the  committee  seemed  warmly 
to  unite,  and  wished  the  whole  case  to  be  brought 
into  such  a  shape,  as  to  be  judged  of  by  the  Select 
15 


114 

members.  Another  part  of  the  committee  dis- 
tinctly stated^  that  Select  Meetings  could  not 
interfere  with  the  business  of  any  meetings  for  dis- 
cipline, and  that  if  any  Friend  in  that  meeting  was 
under  the  care  of  overseers  he  must  satisfy  them, 
and  not  expect  a  refuge  in  the  Select  Meetings. 
The  larger  part  of  the  committee/ however,  still 
urged  their  views,  and  from  time  to  time,  for  more 
than  a  year,  in  vain  attempted  the  accomplish- 
ment of  such  measures  as  might  over- awe  Green- 
Street  Monthly  Meeting,  and  establish  the  point 
that  elders  were  independent  of  overseers  in  the 
exercise  cf  their  official  duties. 

As  such  evident  indications  of  disunity  with 
the  meeting  had  been  persisted  in  by  this  elder, 
Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting,  after  due  consid- 
eration, judged  it  expedient  to  release  him  from 
his  service  in  that  capacity.  But  as  he  was  a 
Friend  much  esteemed  by  the  members  of  that 
meeting,  no  further  censure  was  passed  upon  him, 
nor  was  any  infringement  made  of  his  rights  as  a 
member.  He  was  simply  released  from  the  sta- 
tion or  service  of  elder.  The  committee  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  then 
made  a  report,  which  in  substance  stated,  that 
€i  Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting,  had  in  a  sum- 
mary way,  taken  the  business  out  of  their  hands." 
This  report  was  objected  to,  by  part  of  the  corn- 


115 


mittee,  on  the  ground  that  no  specific  case  had 
ever  been  before  them,  and  because  the  overseers 
of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  had  the  elder 
under  care,  previous  to  the  appointment  of  the 
committee.  But  although  two  of  the  committee 
could  not  concur  with  the  report,  it  was  signed 
on  behalf  of  the  whole,  notwithstanding  the  two 
dissenting  members  urged  a  contrary  course;  and 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
recorded  it,  and  directed  the  substance  of  it  to 
be  laid  before  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting,  as 
a  remonstrance  against  Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting. 

Here,  it  ought  to  be  distinctly  understood, 
there  was  a  direct  violation  of  discipline  on  the 
part  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders.  So  far  from  having  any  power  to  accuse 
a  Monthly  Meeting  to"  the  Quarter,  the  discipline 
expressly  declares,  {i  None  of  the  said  Meetings 
of  Ministers  and  Elders  are  in  anywise  to  inter- 
fere with  the  business  of  any  meeting  for  disci- 
pline." With  this  express  prohibition  before 
them,  the  dominant  part  of  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing of  Ministers  and  Elders,  in  the  plenitude  of 
their  power,  became  instrumental  in  leading  the 
general  Quarterly  Meeting  into  a  direct  infrac- 
tion of  discipline,  by  receiving  on  minute  a  charge 
against  one  of  its  Monthly  Meetings,  through  an 


116 


unauthorized  medium,  relating  to  a  subject  ex- 
clusively within  its  own  jurisdiction  and  control. 
Neither  the  Select  nor  General  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  decision  of 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  in  relation  to  the 
release  of  its  elders. 

Select  Meetings,  as  has  been  shown,  took  their 
rise  from  the  private  conference  of  those  in  the 
ministry,  who  at  first  voluntarily  met  to  encour- 
age each  other  in  a  strict  adherence  to  their  re- 
spective gifts,  and  in  a  conversation  and  practice 
consistent  with  a  dispensation  in  the  ministry. 
Afterwards  Monthly  Meetings  were  encouraged 
to  nominate  two  or  more  judicious,  solid  Friends 
to  sit  with  the  ministers,  under  the  denomination 
of  elders,  &S  it  was  expected  they  would  be  ex- 
emplar^ and  might  afford  suitable  care  and  ad- 
vice to  those  young  in  the  ministry.     In  the  for- 
mation of  Select  Meetings  they  had  no  discipli- 
nary powers.     All  the  power  vested  in  any  of 
the  members  of  those  meetings,  as  such,  arose 
from  their  weight  of  character,  and  that  mutual 
counsel  and  pious  persuasion  which  is  congenial 
with  Christian  love  and  religious  care.     Individ- 
ually the  members  were  subject  to  the  common 
discipline,  and  it  was  never  intended  they  should 
assume  a  distinct  order,  or  have  any  other  supe- 
riority in  the  society,  than  what  arose  from  their 


117 


dedication  and  faithfulness  to  fundamental  prin- 
ciple. The  regulations,  subsequently  introduced 
into  Select  Meetings,  in  the  form  of  answering 
certain  queries,  were  designed  to  keep  alive  the 
primitive  concern  in  regard  to  the  exemplary 
deportment  of  the  members.  Expressly  prohi- 
bited from  interfering  with  disciplinary  subjects 
in  relation  to  the  public  body,  it  appears  strange 
that  any  elder  should  ever  have  thought  himself 
independent  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  to  which 
he  belonged,  or  that  any  Select  Meeting  should 
have  attempted  to  over-awe,  control,  or  arraign 
any  meeting  of  discipline,  or  to  bring  itself  for- 
ward, as  a  distinct  body,  to  interrupt  the  order 
and  harmony  of  society. 

The  remonstrance  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  the  memorial  of 
the  elder  released  by  Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting,  unconstitutionally  and  forcibly  brought 
into  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting,  by  the  or- 
thodox party,  through  the  agency  of  a  clerk 
submissive  to  their  views,  presented  a  distinct 
specimen  of  this  extraordinary  arrogation.  This 
singular  assumption  may  find  a  parallel  in  the 
time  of  the  declension  of  the  primitive  chur- 
ches, but  could  not  passs  unobserved,  nor  be 
submitted  to,  in  the  nineteenth  century.  Great 
exertions  were    made,   by  addressing   the   af- 


118 


fections  on  behalf  of  the  venerable  Friend,  to  con* 
vert  his  memorial  into  an  appeal  case.  But  it  was 
only  a  private  remonstrance  against  his  Monthly 
Meeting,  without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of 
that  meeting,  and  according  to  disciplinary  prac- 
tice it  was  not  entitled  to  be  heard  until  it  had 
been  previously  examined  by  a  committee.  It  fol- 
lowed close  on  the  remonstrance  from  the  Select 
Meeting,  and  both  were  placed  upon  minute,  as  a 
pressing  call  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to 
go  down  to  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting,  with 
the  charges  which  had  been  preferred  against  it 
by  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders. 
This  interference  of  the  Select  Meeting  with 
the  general  Quarter,  and  with  Green  street 
Monthly  Meeting,  excited  unexpected  alarm, 
and  the  opposition  manifested  against  the  mea- 
sure was  so  great  as  to  prevent  the  intended 
proceeding  in  the  case  at  that  time.  The  clerk, 
however,  contrary  to  the  expressed  judgment 
of  the  larger  part  of  the  meeting,  placed  the  two 
remonstrances  on  minute.  At  the  next  Quarter- 
ly  Meeting  a  transposition  of  the  two  minutes 
appeared  to  have  been  effected.  The  memori- 
al of  the  Elder  was  first  called  up,  although  it  was 
second  on  the  minutes,  with  the  expectation,  it 
was  supposed,  that  affection  for  the  venerable 
and  respected  Friend,  would  induce  the  meeting 


119 


to  recognise  his  application  as  an  appeal  case, 
and  would  procure  a  committee  to  reinstate  him. 
But  this  device  failed  to  accomplish  the  desired 
purpose,  and  after  referring  the  two  cases,  from 
Quarter  to  Quarter,  unexampled  scenes  of  con- 
fusion and  disorder  being  the  consequence,  they 
were  referred  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1827,  for 
its  decision. 

Such  are  the  painful  results  of  a  deviation  both 
from  principle  and  practice,  in  the  transaction 
of  religious  concerns.  When  the  Select  Quar- 
terly Meeting  extended  conciliatory  counsel  and 
advice,  through  its  committee,  to  the  select  mem- 
bers of  Green  street  meeting,  their  functions 
ceased  in  relation  to  the  case.  Every  other  step 
was  mere  assumption,  under  the  excitement  of 
party  feeling,  and  tended  to  involve  the  society 
in  great  confusion,  disturbing  the  minds  of  many 
goodly  Friends,  and  bringing  reproach  on  the 
way  of  truth. 

The  temper  and  disposition  elicited  by  the  col- 
lission  of  party  views,  evidenced  a  sorrowful  de- 
parture from  the  spirit  and  practice  of  the  gospel, 
and  exposed  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting,  for 
several  years,  as  a  scene  of  unseemly  excitement 
and  unkind  altercation.  Orthodoxy  often  assu- 
med its  wonted  supercilious  haughtiness,  pouring 
forth  general  charges  of  infidelity  and  unsound- 


120 


ness,  and  at  times  denouncing  and  proscribing 
individuals,  not  suffering  the  meeting  to  be  a 
protection  to  private  character  or  individual 
rights.  The  progress  of  time  increased  that 
flaming  zeal  of  party  feeling,  which  was  destroy- 
ing the  benefits  of  religious  association,  and  lay- 
ing waste  the  rights  and  liberty  of  society. 

In  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  in  the  eighth  month,  1826,  a  second 
committee  was  appointed,  specially  to  advise 
and  assist  the  Preparative  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders  of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting. 
This  appointment  was  grounded  on  a  small 
abatement  made  in  the  answers  to  the  queries, 
received  from  said  Preparative  Meeting,  re- 
specting unity,  although  as  great  deficiencies 
were  acknowledged  in  the  answers  received 
from  at  least  one  other  Preparative  Meeting. 
This  committee  reported  the  ministry  unsound, 
on  the  accusation  of  one  individual,  and  against 
the  evidence  of  all  the  remaining  part  of  the 
meeting,  and  contrary  to  the  official  answers  to 
the  queries,  on  that  subject. 

This  report  was  adopted  by  the  active  rulers 
in  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  no  doubt  it  was  a 
settled  point  to  displace  the  ministering  Friend 
referred  to  in  the  report,  or  to  disown  his  minis- 
try; a  disposition  to  do  which  was  on  several 


121 


occasions  manifested  in  a  very  unseemly  manner. 
In  the  face  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders  the  expressions  of  this  Friend  were  dis- 
ingenuously wrested  and  perverted  so  as  to  make 
them  mean  entirely  different  from  the  intentions 
of  the  speaker,  and  the  glosses  and  construction 
of  his  accusers  were  insisted  on,  in  an  overbearing 
and  unreasonable  manner,  as  the  identical  lan- 
guage uttered  by  him.  This  transaction  dissi- 
pated all  religious  weight  from  the  Select  Meet- 
ing, and  entirely  frustrated  its  intention  and  be- 
nefits, and  forever  burst  that  bond  of  uniony 
which  in  former  days  had  been  a  joy  and  a  re- 
joicing. 

In  the  progress  of  these  trying  circumstances, 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting,  having  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  re- 
lative standing  of  the  elders  belonging  to  that 
meeting,  in  consequence  of  continued  opposition 
of  two  women  elders,  not  only  to  particular  mem- 
bers, but  to  the  Monthly  Meeting,  and  having 
weightily  deliberated  on  the  subject,  came  to  the 
judgment  that  the  service  of  those  two  Friends 
had  ceased  as  elders  of  the  meeting,  and  accord- 
ingly they  were  released.  Those  Friends  offer- 
ed to  the  General  Quarterly  Meeting,  a  written 
communication,  stating,  in  general  terms,  that 
they  were  aggrieved  by  the  proceedings  of  Green 
16 


122 

street  Monthly  Meeting:  without  specifying  in 
what  respect  they  apprehended  themselves  ag- 
grieved. 

A  strong  effort  was  made  in  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  by  the  orthodox  members,  to  make  this 
an  appeal  case,  although  a  similar  application 
involving  the  infraction  of  good  order,  had  been 
rejected,  and  with  its  collateral  remonstrance 
from  the  Select  Quarter,  referred  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  as  the  only  way  to  relieve  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  from  questions  it  could  never 
agree  upon.  Such  however,  was  the  strange 
inconsistency  of  these  members,  that  they  again 
attempted  to  renew  the  same  question,  which 
nothing  but  the  condescension  of  Friends  had 
induced  them  to  submit  to  the  decision  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  hoping  thereby  to  regain  peace 
and  harmony.  Yet  before  the  Yearly  Meeting 
arrived,  at  which  the  judgment  of  the  body  was 
to  be  had,  a  similar  case  was  brought  forward  to 
the  Quarterly  Meeting,  again  to  produce  its  na- 
tural fruits — discord  and  confusion.  The  repre- 
sentatives and  other  members  of  Green  street 
Meeting  attempted  to  explain  what  the  alleged 
grievance  was;  but  this  was  artfully  objected  to, 
on  the  plea,  that  as  the  Quarterly  Meeting  was 
not  officially  informed  of  the  nature  and  merits 
of  the  case,  it  had  no  right,  as  a  Quarterly  Meet- 


123 


ing,  to  know  any  thing  about  them.  A  powerful 
argument  indeed,  to  obtain  a  committee  of  in- 
quiry into  a  case,  not  officially  or  legally  before 
the  meeting,  and  one  over  which  it  was  well 
known  the  Quarterly  Meeting  had  no  jurisdic- 
tion. 

Such,  however,  was  the  policy  of  the  ortho- 
dox party  and  their  unbending  perseverance  on 
this  occasion,  that  they  obtained  a  committee  to 
inquire  into  the  supposed  grievance. 

This  committee  without  waiting  to  report  to 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  what  the  alleged  griev- 
ance was,  and  to  receive  renewed  instructions  in 
the  case,  immediately  transformed  the  memorial 
into  an  appeal,  and  requested  Green  street  Month- 
ly Meeting  to  furnish  the  minutes  of  their  pro- 
ceedings in  relation  to  it.    Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting  very  properly  declined  ^countenancing 
such  an  extraordinary  assumption  on  the  part  of  a 
committee   only  nominated  to  inquire  into  an 
alleged  grievance,  and  not   to  take  into  their 
control  the  power  of  both  the  Quarterly  and 
Monthly  Meeting.     This  committee,  however, 
reported  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  that  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Green  street  Meeting  in  relation  to 
these  two  Friends  should  be  annulled,  although 
the  case,  in  this  point  of  view,  had  never  been 
before  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  nor  had  any  power 


124 

been  given  to  the  committee  by  the  Quarter,  fur- 
ther than  to  inquire  into  the  nature  of  the  alleged 
grievance.  It  must  be  observed,  that  the  proper 
duties  of  this  committee  extended  no  further 
than  to  state  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  in  what 
this  grievance  consisted.  What  right  could  they 
have  to  decide  that  it  was  a  grievance,  and  give 
judgment  accordingly,  without  knowing  whether 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  would  consider  the  re- 
lease of  those  Friends  from  the  station  of  elders 
in  that  light.  The  individuals  who  appointed 
this  committee,  in  the  name  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  sanctioned  their  proceedings,  and 
thereby  assumed  the  principle  that  committees 
have  a  right  to  exceed  the  instructions  of  the 
meeting  appointing  them  to  service,  which  was 
equivalent  to  placing  in  their  hands  indefinite 
power  without  legal  restraint.  When  objections 
were  made  to  these  proceedings  by  members  from 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting,  it  was  declared 
u  they  were  not  to  be  heard. ?? 

The  judiciary  powers  of  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing were  fast  absorbing  into  the  mere  dictum  of 
a  few  orthodox  leaders,  and  few  if  any  transac- 
tions afterwards,  could  properly  be  said  to  be 
the  acts  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  according  to 
original  organization,  or  in  the  legitimate  ex- 
ercise of  its  functions.     Instead  of  concurrent 


125 

feeling  governing  in  the  deliberations  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting,  an  exclusive  system  of  policy 
was  adopted,  the  few  to  rule  the  many. 

In  the  11th  mo.  1826,  a  proposal  originated  in 
the  women's  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  visit  the 
Monthly  Meetings,  which  was  brought  into  the 
men's  meeting  and  under  present  circumstances 
was  discouraged,  on  the  ground,  that  it  was  believ- 
ed, that  no  benefit  would  be  likely  to  arise  from 
any  party  measure  in  the  then  convulsed  state  of 
society.  It  was  not  distinctly  stated  what  was  the 
specific  object  of  the  intended  visitation.  It  was 
a  voluntary  offer  of  certain  iudividuals  to  go 
down  to  the  Monthly  Meetings  under  the  gene- 
ral guise  of  religious  concern.  If  this  coneern 
had  been  of  the  pure  and  proper  kind,  it  would 
have  been  under  the  influence  of  love  in  its 
origin,  its  means,  and  its  end.  Force  and  con- 
straint could  not  have  entered  into  the  means  of 
its  adoption.  This  subject  was  contested  seve- 
ral hours  in  the  men's  meeting,  and  the  general 
voice  was  so  much  opposed  to  the  measure,  that 
the  clerk  emphatically  declared  he  could  not 
proceed  in  the  nomination  of  a  committee  of  men 
to  join  with  the  women  in  this  measure.  A  per- 
son, however,  whom  he  had  previously  called  to 
the  table  as  an  assistant,  being  less  scrupulous, 
undertook  (the  clerk  being  absent  for  a  short 
time)  to  take    down    names,   but   the  opposi- 


126 


tion  was  so  great  that  he  could  not  fully  accom- 
plish his  purpose,  and  after  some  time  the  meet- 
ing adjourned  till  next  day.  During  the  inter- 
val the  clerk  appears  to  have  been  relieved  from 
Ms  scruples,  as  next  day  he  complied  without  he- 
sitation with  the  wishes  of  the  orthodox  party. 

When  the  committee  that  was  appointed  met 
t«  ascertain  the  object  in  view,  two  Friends 
named  on  it  were  treated  with  great  indiffer- 
ence, and  when  the  committee  met  to  agree  on  a 
report  those  Friends  did  not  receive  notification, 
and  at  the  next  Quarterly  Meeting  their  names 
on  the  nomination  list  were  supplied  by  orthodox 
members.  This  committee  reported  attention  to 
their  appointment,  and  expressed  their  belief 
that  it  had  taken  place  in  best  wisdom.  They 
were  continued  without  any  disciplinary  object, 
other  than  the  influence  of  their  counsel  and  ad- 
vice, on  the  general^ ground  of  brotherly  care, 
The  Quarterly  Meeting  could  confer  no  other 
power  on  this  committee.  There  had  been  no 
regular  case  brought  before  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, to  bring  into  action  any  disciplinary  power 
in  relation  to  any  of  the  Monthly  Meetings. 
There  was  no  specific  charge  against  any  Month- 
ly Meeting.  There  was  no  appeal  case  to  call 
forth  the  judiciary  powers  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting.  There  were  no  obligatory  instructions 


127 


from  the  Yearly  Meeting  compelling  th'e  atten- 
tion of  the  Quarter.  The  legitimate  functions 
of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  being  exclusively 
judiciary,  it  cannot  act  with  any  disciplinary 
power,  but  when  cases  are  regularly  brought  be- 
fore it,  either  by  a  Monthly  Meeting  or  by  the 
Yearly  Meeting.  It  possesses  in  itself  no  legis- 
lative or  executive  functions.  It  can  only  de- 
cide on  cases  laid  before  it,  according  to  the  re- 
gular order  prescribed  in  the  discipline.  Its 
decisions  are  referred,  either  to  a  Monthly  or 
Yearly  Meeting  as  the  case  requires.  This  com- 
mittee, therefore,  could  not,  according  to  disci- 
pline, have  any  power  but  that  arising  from  fel- 
low feeling  or  brotherly  care  in  regard  to  any 
Monthly  Meeting  within  the  limits  of  the  Quar- 
ter, 

In  the  face  of  these  incontestible  facts,  it  is 
asked,  upon  what  principle  either  of  justice  or 
discipline  did  this  committee  report  to  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  in  the  5th  mo.  1827,  that 
Green  street  Meeting  should  be  laid  down,  and 
its  members  attached  to  the  Northern  District 
Monthly  Meeting?  Or  how  could  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  consistently,  adopt  this  report  so  much 
at  varience  not  only  with  all  its  own  functions, 
but  also  with  those  of  the  committee?  Such  a 
transaction  could  not  take  place  on  any  known 


128 


principle  connected  with  the  administration  of 
discipline  in  the  society.  It  was  merely  the 
doings  of  orthodoxy,  destitute  of  all  sanction  or 
effect  as  it  regards  the  government  of  society. 

The  truth  is,  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting 
was  at  this  period  virtually  extinct.  After  the 
progress  of  several  years'  disunion,  the  forcible 
nomination  of  the  committee  against  the  voice  of 
the  greater  number  of  the  members  maybe  consi- 
dered to  have  terminated  the  association  as  re- 
garded original  principles.  The  principle  of 
condescension  and  concurrence  was  not  only 
openly  abandoned,  but  measures  were  pursued, 
by  deception  and  absolute  power,  which  went 
directly  to  extinguish  the  rights  of  individuals, 
and  the  liberty  of  religious  society.  Was  it  not 
through  a  union  of  deception  and  unrestrained 
power,  under  the  pretence  of  religious  concern, 
that  this  committee  was  forcibly  nominated,  that 
it  might  in  some  way  lay  hold  on  Green  street 
Monthly  Meeting?  While  professing  to  spread 
its  mantle  of  love  over  the  Monthly  Meetings, 
was  not  the  real  object  of  this  committee  to  over- 
awe, or  crush  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting? 
In  the  14th  or  15  th  century  this  kind  of  policy 
is  understood  to  have  borne  the  designation  of 
u  pious  fraud." 

This  last  appointment  made  up  three  commit- 


129 


tees,  the  powers  of  which  were  directed  to  the 
proscription  of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting* 
One  was  appointed  in  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders  under  a  constructed  charge 
of  unsoundness  in  the  ministry;  a  second  was 
appointed  in  the  General  Quarter  to  inquire  into 
the  grievance  of  the  elders  who  had  been  releas- 
ed, and  the  third,  consisting  of  the  general 
committee  now  forcibly  appointed,  was  intend- 
ed to  take  a  wider  -range  that  the  designs  form- 
ed might  be  more  certainly  compassed.  What 
was  the  transgression  or  delinquency  of  Green 
street  Meeting,  that  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
should  for  years  have  been  setting  itself  in  ar- 
ray against  it?  The  sum  total  of  that  meeting's 
offence,  consisted  in  receiving  the  religious 
labours  of  an  approved  minister  coming  in  gos- 
pel order  amongst  them,  and  in  having  subse- 
quently released  one  male  and  two  female  elders 
from  their  station,  in  consequence  of  their  set- 
tled disunity  with  the  meeting. 

What  is  there  in  either  of  those  cases  incon- 
sistent with  the  functions  and  duties  of  any 
Monthly  Meeting?  They  were  local  concerns, 
over  which  the  Quarterly  Meeting  had  no  con- 
trol, as  they  did  not  come  within  the  limits  of  its 
judiciary  powers. 

17 


130 


The  true  ground  of  all  those  proceedings,  was 
the   offence  taken  by  the  illegal  association  of 
elders,  who  could  not  prevent  the  visit  of  Elias 
Hicks  to  the  families  of  Green  street  Meeting, 
and  who  considered  the  subsequent  release  of 
some  of  the  elders  of  that  meeting  as  a  general 
censure  on  themselves.     To  sustain  their  pre- 
tensions, and  justify  their  claims  to  the  power 
they  had  assumed,  the  hue  and  cry  of  unsound- 
ness was  raised,  to  divert  the  attention  of  be- 
holders,    and  cover  the    true   cause  of  their 
irregular  and  selfish    procedure.      Every  step 
taken  in  a  dereliction  from  principle  involved 
them   in    deeper  difficulty,    until    their  way- 
ward course  placed  them  in  a  position,  distinct 
from  the  unity  of  the  body,  in  the    exercise 
of  its  disciplinary  functions.     Abandoning  the 
exercise  of  condescending  principle,  and   the 
consistency  and  effectiveness  of  general  concur- 
rence in  transacting  the  affairs  of  the  society, 
those  calling  themselves  orthodox  have  become 
an  isolated  party,  which  by  its  own  acts  has  se- 
parated itself  from  the  body,  and  has  produced  a 
consequent  revolution  in  regard  to  the  extent, 
and  the  object  of  its  power. 

The  members  of  Green  street  Meeting  having 
long  experienced  the  hostile  temper  and  disposi- 
tion of  the  ruling  orthodox  party  in  Philadelphia 


131 


Quarter,  and  seeing  that  no  limits  of  discipline 
appeared  to  restrain  their  resentment  and  designs 
against  the  quiet,  the  harmony,  and  the  inde- 
pendence of  their  meeting;  and  perceiving  that 
the  rights  of  Green  street  Meeting  were  no  long- 
er respected,  and  that  every  advantage  resulting 
from  their  connexion  with  Philadelphia  Quarter 
was  gone,  a  proposition  was  made  by  Samuel 
Noble  in  the  2d  mo.  Quarter,  1827,  that  a  con- 
ference "might  be  had  by  a  committee  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  and  Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting,  with  a  view  of  taking  into  considera- 
tion the  expediency  of  Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting  connecting  itself  with  Abington  or  some 
other  Quarterly  Meeting.  This  proposal,  reason- 
able as  it  was,  and  manifesting  the  disposition 
of  Green  street  Friends  to  avoid  extremes,  and 
promote  harmony  in  the  society,  was  treated  with 
great  indifference  and  contempt,  by  those  self- 
important,  individuals  who  vainly  conceived  their 
views  and  opinions  ought  to  be  obligatory  on 
every  department  of  society,  and  direct  its  mea- 
sures to  the  fulfilment  of  their  desires.     Subse- 
quent events  have  fully  demonstrated  the  decep- 
tion which  these  persons  practised  on  themselves, 
as  well  as  on  others,  and  may  stand  as  a  memento 
to  future  aspirants,  how  in  their  desire  to  con- 
trol the  concerns  of  religious  society,  they  ven- 


132 


ture  to  disregard  the  feelings,  and  rashly  trample 
on  the  liberties  of  their  brethren  possessing  the 
same  rights  with  themselves. 


133 


CHAPTER  X. 

REVIEW  OF  THE  DISCIPLINARY  PRINCIPLE  OP 
FRIENDS,  WITH  REMARKS  ON  THE  ALLEGED 
LAYING  DOWN  OF  GREEN  STREET  MONTHLY 
MEETING  BY  PHILADELPHIA  QUARTERLY 
MEETING. 

In  recurring  to  the  formation  of  the  society  of 
Friends,  and  the  introduction  and  application  of 
disciplinary  rules,  we  must  perceive  that  the 
whole  structure  rests  on  the  principle  of  love. 
The  whole  disciplinary  power  in  the  society  is  the 
operation  of  love  drawing  the  minds  of  the  mem- 
bers into  oneness  of  feeling,  and  producing  gene- 
ral concurrence  of  action  respecting  any  sub- 
ject or  case,  that  may  occur  in  accordance  with 
the  rules  and  regulations  found  to  be  promo- 
tive of  consistent  order.  The  divine  gift  or 
spiritual  principle,  is  the  same  in  its  nature  in 
every  mind,  and  all  who  are  gathered  into  it  will 
come  to  have  a  feeling  and  sense  of  what  the 
judgment  of  truth  is,  in  particular  cases.  Every 
mind  may  not  see  with  equal  clearness;  but  the 


134 


judgment  of  truth,  being  unfolded  in  its  own 
wisdom  and  gentleness  will  be  owned  by  all  who 
have  any  spiritual  sensibility,  and  will  produce  a 
general  concurrence.  Those  individuals  who 
are  most  centred  to  the  principle  of  truth  may 
see  with  more  readiness  or  more  clearness  than 
others  of  their  brethren,  and  become  organs  of 
expression  in  regard  to  what  is  best  to  be  done  in 
particular  cases:  but  they  do  not  hereby  acquire 
any  separate  or  superior  power  over  their  fellow 
members  in  the  discharge  of  a  duty  which,  for 
the  time,  only  renders  them  the  servants  of  all. 
The  expression  of  the  feelings  and  views  of  a  few 
individuals  on  a  subject  in  a  meeting  for  business 
may  be  sufficient  when  the  views  expressed  meet 
with  the  unity  and  concurrence  of  the  members 
silently  assenting  to  them.  It  is  not,  however, 
consistent  with  the  nature  of  the  subject  before 
us,  to  suppose  that  the  active  individuals,  or 
speaking  members,  have  any  more  power  in  dis- 
cipline than  silent  members.  It  is  not  the  ex- 
pression or  speech  that  governs  in  deciding  on 
any  case,  but  the  union  and  concurrence  of  the 
members.  Those  who  are  denominated  the  ac- 
tive or  weighty  part  of  a  meeting,  are  so,  not 
from  any  inherent  or  distinct  superiority  in 
themselves,  but  because  through  dedication  and 
faithfulness  they  become  instrumental  in  opening 


135 


the  current  of  unity,  which  spreading  over  a 
meeting  gives  a  sanction  and  decision  to  cases 
under  consideration.  Cases  are  decided  by  the 
weight  of  concurrence  arising  from  a  conviction 
of  the  justness  and  correctness  of  the  views  ex- 
hibited by  active  members;  which  reaching  the 
principle  of  truth  in  the  minds  of  their  fellow- 
members  produce  a  general  feeling  of  union  in 
the  one  principle  of  love. 

The  weight  of  the  active  part,  then,  will  be 
in  proportion  to  the  concurrence  and  unity  of 
the  body.  Active  members  standing  separate 
from  the  unity  of  the  body  cannot  have  either 
religious  weight,  or  usefulness.  It  would  be 
evidently  inconsistent  for  active  members  to  ar- 
rogate to  their  views,  that  weight  which  alone 
consists  in  the  unity  of  the  body  arising  from  the 
operation  of  religious  principle.  In  a  private 
capacity,  every  one  has  a  right  to  his  own  views; 
but  as  members  of  disciplinary  meetings,  the  views 
exhibited  are  the  property  of  the  meeting;  and 
that  view  only  which  obtains  general  concur- 
rence has  weight  to  give  decision.  All  religious 
weight  virtually  resides  in  the  principle  of  truth, 
and  can  only  be  partaken  of  by  individuals,  and 
diffused  over  meetings,  by  attention  and  faithful- 
ness to  the  operation  of  this  principle.  From 
this  view  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  any  indi- 
viduals can  claim  an  exclusive  right  to  religious 


136 


weight,  and  predicate,  on  their  own  opinions,  a 
paramount  power  in  discipline.  The  mere  as- 
sumption is  at  variance  with  every  grace  of  the 
spirit  of  truth,  as  well  as  every  principle  and 
obligation  binding  together  religious  society.  In- 
dividuals who  become  so  tenacious  of  their  own 
views,  as  to  enforce  their  adoption  without  the 
consent,  concurrence,  and  unity  of  the  body,  at 
once  cancel  the  bond  of  religious  union,  depart 
from  the  foundation  principle  of  love  and  conde- 
scension, and  attempt  to  supersede  the  govern- 
ment of  religious  principle  by  human  power. 

These  views  are  not  the  suggestions  of  a  reck- 
less libertinism  reaching  forth  to  novelty  and 
change,  but  are  self-evident  in  the  very  nature  of 
the  subject,  and  entirely  accord  with  the  con- 
current testimony  and  practice  of  Friends.  In  the 
book  of  advices  put  forth  by  Philadelphia  Yearly 
Meeting  in  the  year  1808,  to  wThich  we  have 
already  referred,  it  is  distinctly  stated,  "  It  is 
no  man's  learning,  nor  artificial  acquirements; 
it  is  no  man's  riches,  nor  greatness  in  this  world; 
it  is  no  man's  eloquence  and  natural  wisdom,  that 
makes  him  fit  for  government  in  the  church  of 
Christ;  all  his  endowments  must  be  seasoned  with 
the  heavenly  salt,  and  his  gift  pass  through  the 
fire  of  God's  altar,  a  sacrifice  to  his  praise  and 
honour,  that  so  self  being  baptized  into  death  the 


137 


gift  may  be  used  in  the  power  of  the  resurrection 
of  the  life  of  Jesus' in  him. 

ii  Our  ancient  Friends  and  their  faithful  suc- 
cessors to  the  present  day,  have  earnestly  labour- 
ed to  turn  the  attention  of  all  to  this  pure  spirit; 
knowing  from  experience  that  it  is  the  means 
appointed  by  God  for  effecting  our  salvation,  and 
the  only  foundation  of  all  true  religion  and  wor- 
ship. As  by  this  we  have  been  led  into  divers 
testimonies  which  have  distinguished  us  from 
most  other  professors  of  the  Christian  name,  we 
fervently  desire  that  all  our  members  may  walk 
by  the  same  rule  and  mind  the  same  thing;  thus 
every  one  filling  his  place  in  the  body  we  shall 
grow  up  into  Him  in  all  things  who  is  the  head, 
even  Christ." 

From  every  view  we  can  take  on  this  subject, 
disciplinary  power  rests  not  in  individuals,  but 
in  the  body  concurrently  acting  in  love  and  con- 
descension to  promote  the  general  interests  of 
religious  society.  The  term  power,  on  this  sub- 
ject, does  not  embrace  any  coercion,  but  the 
constraints  of  love.  It  is  the  principle  of  love 
ministering  to  general  good,  seeking  to  restrain, 
by  tender  persuasion,  offending  members,  and  to 
restore  them  into  the  feeling  of  love,  and  the 
unity  of  the  body;  and  where  this  labour  proves 
ineffectual  to  restore,  the  same  love  constrains  to 

18 


138 


bear  testimony  against  that  which  is  evil,  induc- 
ing, at  the  same  time,  a  care  to  leave  unreturning 
offenders  under  a  conviction  of  that  love  which 
through  the  body  seeks  their  restoration.  Where 
the  body  thus  travails  in  love  to  fulfil  the  law  of 
Christ,  it  is  believed  there  are  few  offenders  but 
will  own  the  purity  of  truth's  testimony,  and  be 
satisfied  that  their  own  doings  have  separated 
them  from  church  fellowship. 

The  disciplinary  principle  is  one  in  its  nature, 
although  it  is  brought  to  act  on  different  objects, 
or  in  different  modifications  in  the  several  meet- 
ings. Preparative  Meetings  receive  reports 
from  the  overseers,  and  pi^epare  such  business  as 
is  necessary  to  lay  before  the  Monthly  Meetings, 
which  are  denominated  such,  because  of  their 
being  held  every  month  at  a  stated  time,  and  con- 
sist mostly  of  the  members  within  a  given  district. 
This  meeting  being  open  to  all  the  members  be- 
longing to  it,  and  all  being  on  equality  respect- 
ing rights  and  privileges,  it  seems  to  form  a  com- 
munity within  itself,  and,  so  far  as  respects  the 
practice  of  the  members,  possesses  within  itself 
efficient  or  executive  functions  to  administer  care 
agreeably  to  the  regulations  of  the  discipline. 
With  the  exception  of  disinterested  referees  in 
cases  of  appeal,  and  the  reception  of  counsel  and 
advice  in  cases  of  a  difficult  nature,  Monthly 


139 


Meetings  seem  as  if  they  might  answer  all  the 
purposes  of  a  religious  community,  in  regard  to 
the  management  of  their  local  concerns. 

To  promote  the  general  interest  and  welfare 
of  the  society  at  large,   it  has,  been  deemed  ad- 
visable to  institute  Quarterly  Meetings,  compos- 
ed of  two  or  more  Monthly  Meetings,  and  of  a 
number  of  Quarters  to  form  a  Yearly  Meeting. 
The  object  of  this  arrangement  is  to  produce  ad- 
ditional advantages  to  Monthly  Meetings  without 
diminishing  any  of  their  rights  and  privileges. 
Quarterly  Meetings  have  no  powers  but  what 
are  specifically  described.     They  have  a  judi- 
ciary power  in  cases   of  appeal   which  come 
before    the    meeting,    in  a  manner  distinctly 
specified.       They   afford   advice   to    Monthly 
Meetings,  that  ask  it,  in  a  certain  form,  respect- 
ing any  difficulty  arising  from  a  difference  of 
views  on  any  particular  subject;  and  they  stand 
as    a   medium  of   communication  between  the 
Monthly  and  Yearly  Meetings  in  regard  to  an- 
swering the  queries,   and  forwarding  any  new 
proposal  from  the  Monthly  Meetings,  or  any 
new  decision  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  to  them. 
The  powers  of  the  Quarter  are  of  a  conventional 
nature,  for  specific  purposes  agreed  on  by  the 
Monthly  Meetings,  entering  into  the  union  or 
relation  of  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  for  mutual  ad- 


140 

vantages.  Monthly  Meetings,  in  entering  into 
this  relation  or  agreement  to  hold  a  Quarterly 
Meeting,  do  not  compromit  any  of  their  func- 
tions, far  less  their  existence  as  separate  and  in- 
dependent meetings,  but  they  unite  for  mutual 
advantage,  according  to  the  nature  and  use  of 
those  meetings. 

A.  B.  and  C.  are  three  distinct  independent 
Monthly  Meetings,  and  agree,  with  the  consent 
of  a  Yearly  Meeting,  to  form,  as  one  of  its  con- 
stituent branches,  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  for  the 
common  advantage  of  the  Monthly  Meetings 
which  compose  it.  They  were  severally,  inde- 
pendent Monthly  Meetings,  previous  to  their 
union,  they  remain  independent  during  the 
union,  and  will  continue  so  although  their  con- 
nexion as  a  Quarter  should  be  dissolved,  and 
they  severally  left  to  seek  the  advantages  of  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  in  an  association  with  some 
other  meetings.  No  two  of  these  Monthly 
Meetings,  can  by  any  principle  in  their  asso- 
ciation, arbitrarily  dissolve  or  annihilate  the 
third.  If  A.  and  B.  are  dissatisfied  with  the 
procedure  of  C,  and  from  experience  find  it  not 
to  their  credit  or  advantage  to  remain  in  com- 
munion as  formerly,  they  may  dispense  with  the 
fellowship  of  C.  as  a  branch  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  in  the  manner  of  releasment  from  the 


141 


existing  obligations  of  mutual  compact.  But 
they  cannot  justly  annihilate  C.  and  incorporate 
the  members  with  either  A.  or  B.  The  Monthly 
Meeting  C.  being  released  from  its  agreement 
with  A.  and  B.  as  a  component  branch  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting,  will  revert  to  its  original 
position  previous  to  its  union  with  A.  and  B.  in 
the  capacity  of  a  Quarterly  Meeting. 

From  the  premises  laid  down  in  relation  to 
the  nature  and  operation  of  the  disciplinary  prin- 
ciple of  Friends,  and  in  regard  to  the  legal  con- 
stitution of  meetings  for  discipline,  it  must  ap- 
pear self-evident  that  the  proceedings  under  the 
name  of  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting  against 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  were  without 
just  reason,  order  or  sanction,  and  consequently 
null  and  void. 

From  the  narrative  of  simple  facts,  it  is  unde- 
niable, that  the  active  agents  of  a  party  called 
orthodox,  entirely  abandoned  the  disciplinary 
principle  of  Friends,  which  can  only  operate  by 
love,  condescension,  and  mutual  concurrence. 
They  reached  forth  the  hand  of  force  over  the 
heads  of  the  brethren,  members  of  the  same  body 
or  visible  church,  and  instead  of  dwelling  in  the 
unity  of  the  spirit  which  is  the  bond  of  peace, 
they  from  time  to  time  systematized  human  pow- 
er, and  openly  declared  war  against  all  who 


142 


Would  not  join  their  ranks.  All  the  devices  and 
transactions  that  have  taken  place,  in  the  party 
zeal  of  man.  must  remain  forever  separated  from 
and  foreign  to  the  government  of  the  true  church. 
The  formation  of  the  orthodox  into  an  isolated, 
active  party  of  an  exclusive  character,  in  the 
bosom  of  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting,  pro- 
duced a  state  of  convulsion  and  anarchy,  which 
entirely  destroyed  the  efficiency  of  the  Quarter- 
ly Meeting,  and  utterly  disqualified  it  for  any 
legal  action  whatever.  But  if  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  had  retained  its  judiciary  functions, 
there  was  nothing  before  it  to  act  upon  in 
relation  to  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting. 
There  was  no  deficiency  in  the  regular  order  of 
that  meeting.  It  was  the  most  quiet,  most  con- 
sistent and  exemplary  of  any  meeting  in  the  city. 
There  was  no  regular  matter  or  subject,  accord- 
ing to  the  specified  duties  of  a  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, at  any  time  before  it,  in  respect  to  Green 
street  Monthly  Meeting.  There  was  neither 
legal  object  nor  power  to  act,  until  Green  street 
Monthly  Meeting  had  dissolved  its  connexion 
with  Philadelphia  Quarter,  and  then  all  that 
could  possibly  be  done  in  the  case,  was  to  acqui- 
esce in  the  act  of  that  Monthly  Meeting,  which 
declared  that  its  connexion  with  the  Quarter,  as 
a  constituent  branch,    was  dissolved.     Green 


143 


street  Monthly  Meeting,  having  for  a  length  of 
time  been  deprived  of'  all  the  advantages  of  a 
Quarterly  Meeting,  through  the  agency  of  an 
irreconilable  party,  whose  dominant  power  had 
usurped  the  legal  authority,  believed  that  the 
existing  state  of  society  required,  that  this 
Monthly  Meeting  should  be  connected  with  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  in  the  sober  exercise  of  its 
functions,  and  accordingly,  that  meeting  applied, 
and  was  received  into  connexion  with  Abington 
Quarter.  The  propriety  of  the  measure,  if  at 
all  disputed,  must  be  at  issue  only  between  the 
two  Quarterly  Meetings,  and  not  between  Green 
street  Monthly  and  Philadelphia  Quarterly 
Meeting,  and  could  therefore  only  be  decided 
by  the  Yearly  Meeting. 

Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  being  received 
as  an  integral  branch  of  Abington  Quarter,  un- 
doubtedly possessed  all  the  rights  and  independ- 
ence inherent  in  any  other  Monthly  Meeting 
within  the  union  of  the  Yearly  Meeting.  How 
was  it  possible,  on  any  valid  ground,  for  Philadel- 
phia Quarter  to  affect  the  independence  of  Green 
street  Monthly  Meeting,  more  than  that  of  any 
other. 

We  have  already  seen  there  is  no  such  power 
irt  any  Quarterly  Meeting  to  lay  down  a  Monthly 
Meeting  without  the  consent  or  concurrence  of 


its  members.  How  could  Philadelphia  Quarter, 
then,  reach  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting, 
which  under  a  conviction  of  the  incapacity  of 
that  meeting  in  its  disorganized  state,  to  exer- 
cise the  functions  of  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  had 
placed  itself  in  connexion  with  another.  From 
every  view  possible  to  take  of  the  case  in  con- 
nexion with  the  principles  of  Friends,  the 
whole  proceedings  of  the  orthodox  party  re- 
main nugatory. 

To  corroborate  the  representations  exhibited 
respecting  the  proceedings  against  Green  street 
Monthly  Meeting,  by  the  active  agents  in  Phi- 
ladelphia Quarter,  a  statement  of  facts  published 
by  direction  of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  is 
here  subjoined,  as  follows: 

Jit  an  adjourned  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
held  at  Green  street,  Philadelphia,  the  4th 
of  10th  month,  1827. 

A  verbal  Committee  having  been  appointed  at 
our  Monthly  Meeting  in  the  second  month  last, 
to  prepare  a  statement  of  our  grievances  in  order 
to  be  laid  before  the  Yearly  Meeting,  produced 
at  a  succeeding  meeting  a  document  which  was 
read  and  approved;  and  the  subject  again  claim- 
ing the  consideration  of  this  meeting,  it  was  on 


145 

the  20th.  ult.  submitted  to  a  committee  for  re-ex _ 
animation  j  with  instructions  to  make  such  amend- 
ments and  additions  as  more  recent  occurrences 
render  expedient  and  submit  the  same  for  the 
consideration  of  an  adjourned  meeting.  The 
following  statement  produced  by  them  being  now 
read  and  deliberately  considered  was  united  with 
and  directed  to  be  recorded  on  our  minutes.  It 
was  referred  to  the  Committee  to  make  such  fur- 
ther disposition  thereof  as  may  appear  most  advi- 
sable. 

Extracted  from  the  minutes. 

Joseph  Warner,  Clerk. 

A  STATEMENT,  &c. 

Believing  that  the  present  affecting  state  of 
our  religious  society  demands  that  the  facts  which 
have  been  essentially  its  procuring  cause,  so  far  as 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  stands  connected 
therewith,  should  the  faithfully  developed;  and 
that  the  time  has  fully  arrived  when  such  an  ex- 
position should  be  made,  for  the  justification  of 
the  character  of  our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  fairly  exhibiting  its  proceedings, 
that  all  may  judge  of  them  as  they  really  exist: 
this  Monthly  Meeting  conceives  it  has  become 
its  duty  to  record  the  following  statement, 
19 


146 

When  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Philadelphia 
consented  to  the  establishment  of  Green  street 
Monthly  Meetings  the  Discipline  which  had  been 
adopted  by  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Philadelphia, 
was  consequently  admitted  to  be  the  rule  which 
should  regulate  the  operation  of  both  the  Quarter- 
ly and  Monthly  Meetings.  In  this  book  of  Dis- 
cipline is  the  following  clause  in  relation  to 
Friends  who  may  be  concerned  to  visit,  as  min- 
isters, the  different  meetings  of  Friends,  out  of 
the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting,  viz. 

ii  Agreed,  that  when  any  Friend  is  religiously 
concerned  to  make  a  visit  to  the  meetings  of 
Friends  beyond  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting, 
and  has  obtained  a  certificate  for  that  purpose 
from  the  Monthiy  Meeting  of  which  he  or  she 
is  a  member,  that  the  concern  be  also  laid  before 
the  respective  Quarterly  Meeting  for  its  concur- 
rence and  endorsement,"  &c.  Page  66. 

With  such  a  certificate,  and  so  endorsed,  a 
ministering  Friend  applied,  in  the  12th  month 
1822,  to  visit  the  families  of  this  meeting,  which 
service  being  nearly  completed,  he  attended  our 
Monthly  Meeting,  and  on  presenting  his  certifi- 
cate an  endorsement  expressive  of  our  unity  with 
his  Gospel  labours  amongst  us,  was,  without  a  dis- 
senting voice,  directed  to  be  made  on  it.  After 
whieh  an  elder  of  our  meeting,  in  his  official  cap- 


147 


acity,  in  conjunction  with  several  others;  elders  of 
the  other  city  meetings;  (who  at  this  time  and 
previously  composed  a  self- constituted  meeting 
of  elders;  concerting  measures  out  of  the  order  of 
society;)  signed  a  paper  which  impeached  the 
gospel  ministry  of  the  said  Friend;  and  thereby 
counteracted and  arraigned  the  judgement  come 
to  by  this  meeting:  although  this  Friend;  our  el- 
der; was  present  when  the  endorsement  was  made; 
and  so  far  concurred  with  it  as  to  observe;  when 
a  proposition  was  made  to  alter  it;  that  he  u  thought 
it  would  do." 

We  are  thus  particular  in  stating  these  circum- 
stances; because  we  conscientiously  believe  that 
the  sorrowful  dissentions  amongst  us,  have  in  great 
part  grown  out  of  this  combination  of  elders. 

Next  in  order  we  think  it  right  to  state,  that  in 
consequence  of  this  and  other  acts  of  opposition 
to  the  Monthly  Meeting,  the  aforesaid  elder  was 
taken  under  care  of  the  meeting,  through  the 
medium  of  its  overseers.  After  which  this  Friend, 
in  connexion  with  several  others,  parties  in  the  ques 
tion  at  issue,  (who  together  composed  the  greater 
part  of  our  Preparative  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,)  requested  assistance  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  in  an  abstract 
unspecified  case:  which  request  was  acceded  to, 
and,  in  the  11th  month,  1823,  a  committee  was 


148 

was  appointed.  This  committee  was  continued 
in  service  more  than  a  year.  Within  that  inter- 
val, and  after  continued  but  unavailing  efforts  to 
eifect  a  reconciliation,  a  conclusion  was  come  to 
by  this  Monthly  Meeting,  to  release  the  aforesaid 
Friend  from  the  station  of  an  elder.  The  commit- 
tee then  made  a  report,  in  which  they  complained 
that  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  had,  in  a  sum 
mary  way,  taken  the  business  out  of  their  hands. 
But  this  allegation,  we  conceive,  is  not  well  found 
ed.  Because,  as  before  observed  it  can  be  prov- 
ed by  the  Friend's  own  acknowledgment,  that  the 
meeting  by  its  overseers,  had  his  case  previously 
under  care;  and  moreover  the  aforesaidcommittee 
had  nocase  specified,  as  the  Disipline  directs. 

We  object  to  these  proceedings  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons:  viz. 

1.  Because  a  considerable  proportion  of  the 
most  influential  and  active  members  of  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  being  of 
the  number  of  those  that  composed  the  self-con- 
stituted meeting  of  elders  before  alluded  to,  were 
parties  in  the  case,  and  consequently,  it  could  not 
be  expected  that  they  would  adjudge  against 
their  own  cause. 

2.      Because    the    Preparative   Meeting  o 
Ministers  and  Elders  was  not  united  in  making 
the  request    And 


149 

3.     Because  those  individuals  who  made  the 
request  were  parties  in  the  case. 

The  next  thing  we  notice  is  the  circumstance 
that  in  the  11th  month,  1824,  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  presented  a 
remonstrance  to  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting 
in  the  case  of  the  Friend  before  alluded  to,  which 
arraigned  Green  street  monthly  Meeting  before 
that  meeting. 

In  addition  to  this,  a  memorial  was  presented 
by  the  Friend  himself,  complaining  of  the  con- 
duct of  our  Monthly  Meeting  in  his  case.  This 
memorial  was  read  by  the  clerk  immediately  af- 
ter the  remonstrance,  without  observing  the 
usual  order  of  soci  ety,  which  has  been  to  appoint 
a  committee  to  examine  all  unofficial  documents, 
previously  to  their  being  read:  the  clerk  thus 
taking  on  himself  the  responsibility  of  introducing 
into  the  meeting  a  complaint  from  one  party, 
which  now  appears  on  record  against  us.  These 
papers  were  admitted,  or  rather  forced  on  the 
minutes  of  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting,  con- 
trary to  the  judgment  expressed  by  a  large  part 
of  said  meeting. 

In  reference  to  these  transactions  we  remark, 
1 .  That  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  in  taking  up  the  case,  or  in  making  any 
representation  to  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting 


150 

in  relation  to  the  subject,  and  more  especially  by 
its  arraignment  of  our  Monthly  Meeting  or  its 
proceedings,  committed  a  direct  infraction  upon 
that  part  of  our  Discipline  which  declares,  that 
"  none  of  the  said  meetings  of  Ministers  and  El- 
ders are  in  anywise  to  interfere  with  the  business 
of  any  meeting  for  Discipline."     Page  67. 

2.  The  general  Quarterly  Meeting,  by  en- 
tering this  remonstrance  on  its  minutes,  and  by 
acting  upon  it,  sanctioned  this  violation  of  our 
Discipline,  and  thus  became  a  party  against  one  of 
its  branches,  and  by  that  act,  virtually  absolved 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  from  further  ac- 
countability to  it  as  a  superior  meeting. 

3.  By  admitting  the  memorial  of  our  elder, 
as  aforesaid,  the  Quarterly  Meeting  sanctioned 
and  became  accessary  to  a  violation  of  the  first 
principles  of  gospel  order,  recognized  by  our 
Discipline,  viz.  that  endeavours  be  used  by  the 
party  offended '  to  obtain  a  reconciliation  with 
the  party  offending,  previously  to  any  charge 
being  preferred:  agreeably  to  the  injunction  of 
Christ,  "  If  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against  thee? 
go  and  tell  him  his  fault,  between  thee  and  him 
alone,"  &c.  (See  introduction  to  Discipline.  J 
This  important  requisition  of  the  Discipline  was 
neglected  by  our  elder,  who  did  not  so  much  as 
inform  our  Monthly  Meeting  of  his  intention  to 
arraign  it  before  the  Quarterly  Meeting. 


151 

4.  The  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders  by  coming  to  a  judgment  to  make  a  remon- 
strance against  our  Monthly  Meeting,  constitu- 
ted itself  a  party  against  us.  This  fact  was  so 
far  admitted  by  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting, 
that  when  the  case  was  referred,  in  the  5th  mo. 
1826,  to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  a  committee 
was  about  to  be  appointed  to  represent  it  there 
a  decision  was  come  to,  that  the  members  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  should 
be  privileged  to  name  out  of  that  body  one  half 
of  the  said  committee,  and  that  the  members  of 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  might  name  the 
other  half. 

5.  The  same  parties  who  composed  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  who 
had  presented  the  aforesaid  remonstrance,  again, 
in  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting,  sat  in  judg- 
ment against  our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  were 
the  active  men  in  forcing  the  measure. 

In  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  in  the  8th  month,  1826,  a  second  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  specially  to  advise  and  as- 
sist our  Preparative  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders.  This  appointment  was  grounded  upon  a 
small  abatement  made  in  the  answers  to  the  que- 
ries received  from  said  Preparative  Meeting,  al- 
though as  great  deficiencies  were  acknowledged 


152  / 

in  the  answers  received  from  at  least  one  other 
Preparative  Meeting. 

This  committee  reported  the  ministry  unsound, 
on  the  accusation  of  one  individual,  and  against 
the  evidence  of  all  the  remaining  part  of  the  meet 
ing,  and  contrary  to  the  official  answers  to  the 
queries.  This  report  was  adopted  by  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting. 

On  the  same  evidence,  the  committee  identifi- 
ed as  an  offender,  a  minister  who  then  was,  and 
continues  to  be  in  unity  with  the  Monthly  Meet 
ing,  and,  excepting  his  accuser,  with  the  Prep- 
arative Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  sum 
moned  him  to  attend  before  part  of  their  num- 
ber, without  the  permission  of  the  said  Prepara- 
tive Meeting. 

Respecting  these  measures  we  make  the  follow- 
ing observations. 

i.  In  case  of  deficiencies  acknowledged  in  the 
official  answers  to  the  queries,  the  extent  of  the 
power  given  by  the  Discipline  to  Quarterly  Meet 
ings  of  Ministers  and  Elders  is  to  counsel  and 
advise  their  constituent  Preparative  Meetings. 
The  words  of  the  Discipline  are,  ••  And  in  the  said 
Quarterly  Meetings,  the  queries  are  also  to  be 
read,  with  the  answers  which  are  brought  from 

their  Preparative  Meetings,  and  the  state  of  the 
members  weightily  considered,  that,  where  occa- 


153 


sion  requires  it.  advice  and  counsel  may  be  sea- 
sonably extended,77  &c.  Page  66.  The 
Quarterly  Meeting,  therefore,  by  undertaking 
to  assist  the  Preparative  Meeting,  (by  which 
was  intended,  as  subsequent  events  demonstrated, 
to  procure  a  charge  against  a  member  of  the  Pre- 
parative Meeting,  in  opposition  to  the  sense  and 
judgment  of  said  meeting,)  exhibited  in  its  con- 
duct a  manifest  example  of  assumption  of  power. 

2.  The  committee,  by  reporting  the  ministry 
unsound  on  the  accusation  of  one  individual,  and 
contrary  to  the  official  answers,  committed  a 
direct  infringement  of  that  part  of  our  discipline 
which  directs,  that "  a  timely  and  tender  care  be 
extended  to  such  person  according  to  gospel  order; 
first  by  the  individuals  concerned,  and  then  by 
the  Preparative  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
to  which  he  or  she  may  belong:'7  and  that  "should 
these  labours  prove  unavailing,  report  of  the  case 
should  be  made  by  that  meeting  to  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  there  a 
few  friends  be  deputed  to  assist,77  &c.  fSee 
page  <6&.J 

We  say,  this*  proceeding  of  the  committee 
was  a  direct  violation  of  the  Discipline — because, 
1 .  No  labour  on  account  Of  unsoundness  in  min- 
istry had  been  extended  by  the  Preparative 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders.  2.^  The 
20 


154 

Preparative  Meeting  had  not  made  the  pre-re- 
quisite  report  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  which 
the  Discipline  expressly  enjoins.  3.  The  com- 
mittee demonstrated  a  disposition  of  unkindly 
feeling  to  our  preparative  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  elders,  by  taking  the  accusation  of  one  indi- 
vidual in  opposition  to  our  official  answers  to  the 
queries,  and  by  reporting  accordingly. 

3.  The  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  by  adopting  this  report,  and  by  continu- 
ing the  committee  in  service  under  such  circum- 
stances, sanctioned  this  violation  of  Discipline  and 
gospel  order. 

4.  The  committee    by  identifying    and  at- 
tempting to  visit  as  an  offender,  a  minister  to 
whom  no  care  had  been  extended  by  the  said 
Preparative  Meeting,  and  who  was  in  unity  both 
with  the  Monthly  Meeting  and  the  Preparative 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  by  thus 
identifying    him  in  opposition  to  the  official  an- 
swers to  the  queries,   committed  a  direct  infrac- 
tion upon  the  Discipline  before  cited,     This  act 
of   the    committee   also    involved   a  principle 
calculated  to  promote  discord  among  the  members 
of  our  Preparative   Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  and  between  said  Preparative  Meeting 
and  the  Monthly  Meeting.     It  had  also  an  obvi- 
ous tendency  to  obstruct  the  clear  awswering  of 


155 


the  third  Query,  respecting  ministers  and  elders, 
viz.  "Are  they  in  unity  one  with  an  another, 
and  with  the  meeting  they  belong  to,  harmonious- 
ly labouring  for  truth's  honour?"     Page  96. 

We  next  state,  that  on  account  of  open  and 
continued  opposition  manifested  by  two  of  our 
women  elders,  not  only  to  the  Monthly  Meeting 
but  to  particular  members,  this  meeting,  after 
having  appointed  a  committee  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  relative  standing  of  our  elders,  and 
after  having,  on  their  united  report,  weightily 
deliberated  upon  the  subject,  came  to  the  judg- 
ment that  the  service  of  these  two  Friends  had 
ceased  as  elders  of  the  meeting.  And  according- 
ly they  were  released  from  said  service,  on  the 
authority  of  the  following  Discipline. 

1 .  That  part  of  the  third  Query,  just  cited, 
which  requires  that  ministers  and  elders  be  il  in 
unity  one  with  another,  and  with  the  meeting 
they  belong  to."     Page  96. 

2.  That  part  of  our  Discipline  respecting 
elders,  which  directs  that  Monthly  Meetings 
take  care  u  that  the  Friends  chosen  for  that  ser- 
vice, be  prudent,  solid  Friends,  and  that  they  do 
carefully  discharge  the  trust  confided  to  them." 
Page  63.  Both  these  injunctions  of  the  Disci- 
pline obviously  make  it  obligatory  on  Monthly 
Meetings,  to  have  such  elders  only  as  are  in  unity 


156 

with  them,  and  also,  to  have  none  that  are  not 
qualified  for  the  station,  or  that  do  not  u  careful- 
ly discharge  the  trust  confided  to  them." 

3.  That  part  of  our  Discipline  which  directs 
what  course  shall  be  pursued  in  Meetings  of 
Ministers  and  Elders  in  reference  to  the  release 
of  a  member  of  those  meetings  wiio  may  "be 
thought,  by  negligence,  unfaithfulness,  or  other- 
wise, to  have  lost  his  or  her  service  in  that  station, 
so  as  to  become  the  subject  of  uneasiness  and  bur- 
thensome" — Yet  manifestly  giving  an  antece- 
dent and  paramount  right  and  authority  to 
Monthly  Meetings,  to  take  such  individuals 
under  care,  in  the  words  following:  viz.  "  yet 
not  so  as  to  be  under  the  care  of  a  Meeting  of 
Discipline  on  that  account  or  for  misconduct." 
The  words  "  that  account"  manifestly  referring 
to  loss  of  service,  by  "  negligence,  unfaithfulness, 
or  otherwise."     P.  68. 

We  believed,  and  we  are  confirmed  in  the 
correctness  of  the  conclusion,  that  this  last  part 
of  the  Discipline  cited,  taken  in  connexion  with 
the  other  two  parts,  fully  authorized  and  enjoin- 
ed, this  Monthly  Meeting,  on  the  ground  that 
their  service  had  ceased  in  that  capacity,  to  re- 
lease the  Friends  before  alluded  to,  from  their 
station  as  elders  in  this  meeting.  And  accord- 
ingly, as  before  observed,  a  minute  was  made  to 
that  effect. 


157 


Afterwards  these  Friends  offered  to  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting,  a  written  communication,  stating 
in  general  terms,  that  they  were  aggrieved  by  the 
proceedings  of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting, 
without  specifying  in  what  respects  they  consi- 
dered themselves  aggrieved. 

A  strong  effort  was  then  made  in  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting,  by  certain  members,  to  make  this 
an  appeal  case;  but  this  measure  was  overruled. 

Our  representatives,  and  other  members,  at- 
tempted to  explain  what  the  alleged  grievance 
was;  but  this  was  strenuously  objected  to,  on  the 
plea,  that  as  the  Quarterly  Meeting  was  not 
officially  informed  of  the  nature  and  "merits  of  the 
case,  it  had  no  right,  as  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  to 
know  any  thing  about  them;  and  hence  was  urged 
the  necessity  of  appointing  a  committee  to  inquire 
into  the  circumstances. 

In  this  way  the  Quarterly  Meeting  came  to 
the  judgment  that  a  committee  should  be  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  into  the  nature  of  the  sup- 
posed grievance,  that  a  fair  understanding  might 
be  had  by  the  meeting,  in  respect  to  the  propri- 
ety of  hearing  the  complainants,  and  a  committee 
was  accordingly  nominated.  This  committee 
undertook  to  transform  the  memorial  of  these 
elders  into  an  appeal  case,  waited  on  our  Month- 
ly Meeting,  and  requested  it  to  appoint  a  com- 


158 


mittee  to  carry  forward  before  them  the  minutes 
of  our  proceedings. 

But  this  meeting  believing  that  the  Quarterly 
Meeting's  committee  had  not  been  authorized  to 
take  this  course,  that  our  Monthly  Meeting  was 
not  authorized  to  sanction  it,  that  by  the  Disci- 
pline the  Quarterly  Meeting  itself  had  no  juris- 
diction in  the  case,  and  also  believing,  not  only 
on  this  account,  but  because  of  the  great  disunity 
in  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  that  the  appointment 
was  irregular,  declined  nominating  any  commit- 
tee. 

The  Quarterly  Meeting's  committee  persisted, 
however,  in  their  determination  to  make  it  an 
appeal;  and  accordingly,  without  any  committee 
having  been  appointed  by  us,  and  without  inform- 
ing the  Quarterly  Meeting  what  it  was  our  meet- 
ing had  done,  reported  it  as  their  judgment,  that 
the  proceedings  of  Green  street  Monthly  Meet- 
ing in  relation  to  these  two  Friends,  be  annulled. 

Here  again  our  representatives,  and  other 
members,  attempted  to  explain,  that  it  was,  or 
had  been  constituted,  an  appeal  for  the  office  of 
an  elder;  that  these  two  Friends  had  merely  been 
released  from  that  station:  and  moreover,  the 
conversion  of  this  case  into  an  appeal,  (in  the 
sense  in  which  that  term  is  used  in  the  Discipline) 
had  been  over-ruled  by  the  preceding  Quarterly 


159 

Meeting.  But  we  were  told,  as  we  had  been  in 
some  other  cases  offered  to  the  consideration  of 
the  Quarterly  Meeting,  that  "the  members 
of  Green  street  Meeting  could  not  be  heard." 

So  that  the  Quarterly  Meeting  remains  yet 
uninformed  of  the  decision  of  our  meeting,  and 
also  of  the  nature  of  the  supposed  grievance. 
Yet  nevertheless  a  minute  is  recorded  on  the 
books  of  said  Quarterly  Meeting,  adopting  the 
judgment  of  the  committee,  that  the  proceedings 
of  our  meeting  be  annulled. 

To  these  measures  we  make  the  following  ob- 
jections— 1.  The  committee  transformed  this 
case  into  an  appeal,  against  the  express  under- 
standing of  the  Quarterly  Meeting. 

2.  On  their  report,  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
sanctioned  this  proceeding;  and  thereby  assumed 
the  principle,  that  committees  have  a  right  to 
exceed  the  instructions  of  the  Meeting  appoint- 
ing them  to  service. 

3.  There  is  no  Discipline  which  recognizes  a 
right  to  appeal  for  the  office  of  an  elder. 

4.  The  Quarterly  Meeting,  by  recognizing 
this  case  as  an  appeal,  in  effect  assumed  to  itself 
the  power  to  make  discipline. 

5 .  By  this  act  the  Quarterly  Meeting  has  de- 
nied to  Monthly  Meetings,  their  right  of  select- 
ing from    among  their  own  members,   such  as 


160 


they  may  deem  most  eligible  to  fill  the  offices  of- 
said  meetings;  and  has  also  assumed  the  right  to 
oblige  our  Monthly  Meeting  to   acknowledge 
such  as  the  Quarterly  Meeting  may  think  suita- 
ble. 

6.  By  this  act  the  Quarterly  Meeting  has 
declared^  that  although  Monthly  Meetings  are 
competent  to  judge  of  the  qualification  of  indi- 
viduals to  serve  them  as  eiders,  yet  they  are  not 
competent  to  judge  of  disqualification;  or,  in 
other  words,  the  Quarterly  Meeting  has  declared, 
that  the  power  which  appoints,  is  not  sufficient 
to  release  an  elder  from  that  office. 

7.  By  this  act,  the  Quarterly  Meeting  has 
assumed  the  principle,  that  in  a  remonstrance  or 
an  appeal,  it  is  not  necessary  that  the  meeting 
should  know  that  the  party  has  been  deprived  of 
any  right  or  privilege  by  the  act  of  a  Monthly 
Meeting,  or  what  the  decision  of  the  Monthly 
Meeting  has  been  in  relation  to  the  party,  prior 
to  its  reversal  by  the  Quarterly  Meeting. 

8.  The  Quarterly  Meeting,  by  adopting  the 
report  of  the  committee  to  annul  the  proceedings 
of  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting,  decided  the 
question  which,  at  a  previous  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, when  the  case  of  the  elder  first  alluded  to 
was  before  it,  it  agreed  to  refer  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting  for  its  determination. 


161 


To  proceed  now  with  our  narrative,  it  will  be 
proper  here  to  recur  to  the  remonstrance  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
against  our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  the  memorial 
of  the  elder  just  noticed,  and  which,  as  has  been 
mentioned,  the  general  Quarterly  Meeting  con- 
cluded, in  the  5th  mo.  1826,  to  lay  before  the 
Yearly  Meeting.  In  relation  to  the  case  grow- 
ing out  of  these,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  state,  that 
owing  to  the  disunity  and  discordant  views  appa- 
rent in  the  Yearly  Meeting,  this,  with  several 
important  subjects  that  had  come  up  from  other 
Quarterly  Meetings,  was  dismissed  without  being 
taken  up — that  body  thus  acknowledging  itself 
incompetent  to  their  adjudication.  Hence  our 
Monthly  Meeting  was  necessarily  left  without 
a  remedy,  as  it  regarded  the  proceedings  of  Phi- 
ladelphia Quarterly  Meeting. 

We  will  next  direct  our  attention  to  the  cir- 
it  j  *  ^  "  appointment  of  a  comir 
the  Quarterly  Meeti  isit    he,  Monthly 

Meetings.     This  appointment  tool 
11th  mo,  1826;  and  alth<  ttoit 

was  so  great  tht 

that  he  could  not  -c  ibiisly  re  i  mes 

for  it,  yet  after  mud-  ;  e  :  in  discussing  the 

;ard  of  the  j 


162 


expressed  by  a  large,  if  not  the  larger,  part  of 
the  meeting,  a  committee  was  appointed. 

As  it  had  become  manifest  by  the  proceedings 
of  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  that  our  rights  as  a 
Monthly  Meeting  would  not  be  respected,  it  was 
concluded,  after  deliberate  consideration,  at  a 
Monthly  Meeting  held  4th  month  last,  to  dissolve 
our  connexion  with  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing. A  minute  expressive  of  this  conclusion  was 
was  made,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  give 
the  information  to  the  next  Quarterly  Meeting 
to  be  held  in  the  5th  month.  This  was  done  by 
one  of  the  Friends  nominated  to  that  service,  who 
also  laid  on  the  table  of  the  clerk,  a  copy  of  the 
minute  of  this  Monthly  Meeting  on  that  subject, 
which  was  read. 

At  this  Quarterly  Meeting  the  forementioned 
committee,  which  had  been  appointed  to  visit  the 
Monthly  Meetings,  made  a  report,  in  which  they 
recommended  that  Green  street  Monthly  Meet- 
ing should  be  laid  down,  and  its  members  attach- 
ed to  the  Northern  District  Monthly  Meeting, 
which  report  was  adopted. 

To  these  proceedings  on  the  part  of  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting,  we  object.  1.  That  previously 
to  this  act  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Philadel- 
phia, Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  had  dissolv- 
ed its  connexion  with  that  meeting,  and  was 


163 


therefore  not  under  its  jurisdiction,  and  of  this 
faet  the  Quarterly  Meeting  had  been  officially- 
informed. 

2.  In  attempting  to  lay  down  our  Monthly 
Meeting,  without  first  obtaining  its  consent  to 
the  measure,  the  Quarterly  Meeting  broke  the 
following  discipline,  viz.  "It  is  agreed  that  no 
Quarterly  Meeting  be  set  up  or  laid  down,  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  Yearly  Meeting;  no  Month- 
ly Meeting  without  the  consent  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting;  nor  any  Preparative  or  other  meeting 
for  business  or  worship  till  application  to  the 
Monthly  Meeting  is  first  made,  and,  when 
there  approved,  the  consent  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  be  also  obtained."     Page  32. 

By  this  rule  it  is  manifest,  that  a  Quarterly 
Meeting  has  no  other  power  than  to  confirm  Or 
prevent  the  setting  up  or  laying  down  of  a 
Monthly  Meeting.  It  is  also  clear,  that  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  cannot  lay  down  a  "  Prepa- 
rative or  other  Meeting  for  business  or  worship, 
till  application  to  the  Monthly  Meeting  is  first 
made,  and  when  there  approved,  the  consent  of 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  be  also  obtained."  The. 
terms  "  other  meeting  for  business,"  in  the 
clause,  must  include  a  Monthly  Meeting.  Ad- 
mitting, however,  that  they  do  not  include  a 
Monthly  Meeting,  it  would  be  absurd  to  sup- 


164 


pose,  that  where  there  is  no  power  to  lay  down 
an  inferior,  the  power  exists  to  lay  down  a  supe- 
rior meeting.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  Green 
street  Monthly  Meeting  not  having  made  such 
an  application,  the  Quarterly  Meeting  had  no 
authority  to  lay  it  down.         ' 

3.  As  the  Discipline  was  the  compact  guar- 
anteed to  this  Monthly  Meeting,  and  as  what  was 
not  conceded  in  that  compact  was  unquestiona- 
bly retained;  or,  in  other  words,  as  in  accepting 
the  Discipline  when  we  became  a  branch  of  Phi- 
ladelphia Quarter,  we  gave  no  such  power  to  lay 
down  our  meeting,  it  is  not  now  to  be  implied 
that  suck  power  was  intended  by  the  terms  of  the 
compact. 

4.  The  absurdity  of  the  application  of  the  rule 
as  construed  by  the'Quarterly  Meeting,  becomes 
evident  when  applied  to  the  setting  up  of  a 
Monthly  Meeting  without  the  consent  of  the 
parties  who  are  to  compose  such  meeting — the 
same  principle  clearly  applying  in  both  cases. 

5.  To  suppose  that  the  rights  of  a  Monthly 
Meeting  are  to  be  transferred  at  the  option  of  a 
Quarterly  Meeting,  is  repugnant  both  to  the 
letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  Discipline,  as  this 
would  imply  the  existence  of  a  power  in  the 
Quarterly  Meeting,  to  attach  us,  as  members,  to 
any  Monthly  Meeting  within  the  limits  of  the 


165 


said  Quarter,  notwithstanding  the  inconvenience 
or  injustice  that  might  be  consequent  on  such  a 
transfer. 

6.  Were  it  admitted  that  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing had  the  abstract  right  to  lay  down  a  Monthly 
Meeting  without  its  consent,  there  wras  no  valid 
reason  existing  for  the  procedure  in  the  case  of 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting.  Our  Monthly 
Meeting  had  not  only  been  regularly  kept  up, 
and  the  Discipline  administered  with  propriety, 
but  we  had  been  favoured  to  enjoy  a  greater  de- 
gree of  unity  and  harmony  than  any  other  of  the 
Monthly  Meetings  in  the  city.  For  these  and 
the  above  reasons,  the  proceeding  of  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Philadelphia  can  only  be  re- 
garded as  an  arbitrary  measure,  unwarranted  by 
Discipline. 

Our  Monthly  Meeting  having,  as  has  been 
stated,  dissolved  its  connexion  with  Philadelphia 
Quarter,  came  also  to  the  conclusion  to  apply  to 
Abington  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  be  received  as 
a  branch  of  that  meeting.  The  application  was 
accordingly  brought  before  that  Quarter,  in  the 
5th  month  last,  in  Which,  on  a  full  and  decided 
expression  of  the  sense  of  that  meeting,  the  pro- 
posal was  agreed  to,  and  a  copy  of  the  minute 
then  made  was  directed  to  be  sent  down  to  our 


166 


Monthly  Meeting,  which  from  that  period  be- 
came a  branch  of  Abington  Quarterly  Meeting. 
In  justification  of  this  step,  we  observe — 
1.  That  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Philadel- 
phia by  admitting  on  its  records  the  proceedings 
of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  El- 
ders, in  direct  opposition  to  that  rule  of  Disci- 
pline which  says,  ei  None  of  the  said  meetings  of 
Ministers  and  Elders  are  in  anywise  to  interfere 
with  business  of  any  meeting  for  discipline,"  and 
by  other  infractions  of  the  Discipline,  noticed  in 
this  statement,  did  virtually  release  our  Monthly 
Meeting  from  accountability  to  said  Quarter  as  a 
superior  meeting — it  being  evident  that  our 
subordination  was  to  be  in  the  order  prescribed 
by  the  Discipline,  and  not  out  of  it.  And 
therefore  as  the  Quarterly  Meeting  had  departed 
from  this  order,  we  had  a  right,  as  a  Monthly 
Meeting,  to  take  any  step,  not  prohibited  by 
that  compact,  which  would  secure  to  us  the 
enjoyment  of  our  civil  and  religious  privileges. 

2.  By  attaching  ourselves  to  Abington  Quarter, 
we  have  departed  neither  from  the  letter  nor  the 
spirit  of  the  Discipline:  there  is  no  provision  in 
the  former  against  such  a  step,  neither  is  it  im- 
plied by  the  latter  that  we  are  not  to  seek  a 
peaceable  and  orderly  retreat  from  an  alarming 
infringement  of  our  rights  as  a  Monthly  Meeting, 


167 


when,  in  seeking  such  a  retreat,  we  connect 
ourselves  with  a  Quarterly  Meeting  governed  by 
the  same  Discipline. 

To  conclude.  While  we  deplore  the  desola- 
tion which  exists  in  our  borders,  and  feel  that 
the  waste  places  of  Zion  are  many,  we  sincerely 
hope  and  believe  that  the  period  will  arrive, 
when  Jerusalem  will  become  u  a  rejoicing,  and 
her  people  a  joy.??  And  desiring  that  we  may 
keep  the  patience  under  all  the  trials  we  may  be 
permitted  to  experience,  we  recommend  to  our 
members  that  they  cultivate  a  spirit  of  forbear- 
ance and  brotherly  love,  thereby  evidencing  that 
they  are  under  the  influence  of  that  power  which 
inspired  the  anthem  of  ((  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men." 


169 


CHAPTER  XL 

INCONSISTENT  PROCEEDINGS    IN   THE    MEETING 
FOR    SUFFERINGS. 

The  maxim,  that  a  society  which  does  not 
often  recur  to  first  principles  is  in  danger  of 
going  to  decay,  appears  to  have  been  verified 
in  the  society  of  Friends.  The  dust  of  three 
generations  has  been  sufficient  to  cover  from  the 
sight  of  many  of  its  members  the  true  origin  and 
constitution  of  some  of  the  most  effective  institu- 
tions in  the  society.  It  must  appear  surprising 
to  a  reflecting  mind,  acquainted  with  the  liberal 
nature  and  tendency  of  the  principles  of  Friends, 
that  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  of  Philadelphia 
Yearly  Meeting,  in  the  year  1826  virtually  de- 
clared itself  a  permanent  body;  or  that  its  mem- 
bers were  not  removable  by  their  constituents. 

The  Southern  Quarterly  Meeting  taking  into 
consideration  the  state  of  its  representation  in 
the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  judged  it  advisable 
to  make  a  new  nomination,  which  released  two  of 
its  former  representatives  resident  in  the  city, 
22 


170 


who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  measures  contra- 
ry to  its  views,  and  to  the  declaration  of  a  consid- 
reable  number  of  their  constituents  in  relation  to 
matters  of  fact  that  had  transpired  within  their 
own  limits  and  knowledge.  The  release  of  those 
two  members  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings 
caused  considerable  sensation  in  that  body,  who 
encouraged  them  to  present  to  it  a  remonstrance 
against  the  proceedings  of  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing in  releasing  them;  which  was  received  and 
acted  upon,  and  the  minute  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  appointing  the  new  members  was  re- 
jected, and  they  denied  the  right  and  privilege 
of  members.  A  committee  was  appointed  by 
the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  to  attend  the  South- 
ern Quarter,  with  a  view  to  convince  that  meet- 
ing of  the  illegality  of  nominating  new  represen- 
atives  whilst  the  former  were  willing  to  serve. 
A  member  of  this  committee  used  considerable 
argument  to  show  that  it  never  was  intended  to 
release  the  representatives  from  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  to  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  except 
at  their  own  request,  These  arguments  failing 
to  convince  the  Southern  Quarter,  that  meeting 
adopted  a  minute,  to  be  presented  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  remonstrating  against  the  proceedings 
of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings.  It  seems  strange 
that  the  active  agent  of  this  committee,  having 


171 


free  access  to  the  records  of  the  society,  should 
attempt,  in  the  face  of  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  to 
maintain  a  position  so  inconsistent  with  the  na- 
ture of  the  case,  and  so  much  at  variance  with 
the  fact. 

In  recurring  to  the  history  of  the  Meeting  for 
Sufferings  of  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting,  we 
find  that  this  committee  had  its  origin  in  the  year 
1756,  during  an  Indian  war,  when  Friends  near 
the  frontiers  were  subjected  to  considerable  trial 
and  hardship.  The  committee  of  correspond- 
ence with  England  suggested  the  propriety  of 
raising  additional  funds  and  placing  them  at  the 
disposal  of  a  committee  to  be  appointed  in  the 
most  equitable  way.  Twelve  members  by  the 
Yearly  Meeting  at  large,  and  four  from  every 
Quarter  to  sit  on  their  own  adjournments.  The 
duties  assigned  this  committee  were  "to  consider 
the  cases  of  those  brought  under  suffering  at  that 
time,  by  the  Indians;  to  correspond  with  the 
Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  London;  and  to  repre- 
sent the  Yearly  Meeting  in  all  cases  where  the 
reputation  and  interest  of  truth  required,  provi- 
ded they  did  not  meddle  with  matters  of  faith 
and  discipline  not  already  determined  in  the 
Yearly  Meeting."*   This  committee  was  direct- 

*  Yearly  Meeting's  minute  in  1756. 


172 

ed  to  keep  minutes  of  its  proceedings  and  report 
them  annually  to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  which  ap- 
pears by  the  records  to  have  been  done,  and  the 
committee  was  continued  from  year  to  year  by 
the  approbation  of  the  Yearly  Meeting. 

In  1761  the  Yearly  Meeting  continued  the 
Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  the  "  same  manner  it 
was  constituted,  reserving  to  each  Quarterly 
Meeting  their  privilege  of  changing  their  repre- 
sentatives when  they  think  proper."  This  min- 
ute was  extracted  from  the  record  by  James 
Pemberton,  clerk  to  the  meeting  that  year,  and 
shows  the  judicious  care  of  Friends  at  that  time, 
to  guard  their  rights,  as  well  as  to  define  the  na- 
ture and  duties  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings. 
Had  succeeding  Yearly  and  Quarterly  Meetings 
been  sufficiently  careful  to  renew,  from  time  to 
time,  their  representatives,  the  Meeting  for  Suf  - 
ferings  never  would  have  assumed  that  degree  of 
importance  and  high  tone  in  action  that  have 
been  witnessed  in  latter  years. 

It  is  not  intended  indiscriminately  to  censure 
the  members  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings. 
There  have  been  many  valuable  individuals  ex- 
ercising a  place  in  this  body,  and  they  may  have 
been  of  service  in  promoting  the  benevolent  and 
philanthropic  views  of  the  society.  But  it  can 
not  be  disguised  that  the  principals  in  the  ortho- 


173 

dox  party,  have  for  a  number  of  years  been 
giving  a  direction  to  the  influence  and  power  of 
the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  to  favour  their  own 
views.  A  long  succession  of  valuable  individuals 
concentrating  a  considerable  weight  of  religious 
character  and  talent  in  this  meeting,  had  ren- 
dered it  highly  respectable  in  the  view  of  the 
soeiety;  and  these  orthodox  members,  entering 
into  the  labours  of  past  generations,  and  feeling 
themselves  in  a  situation  to  grasp,  and  circum- 
scribe within  the  compass  of  their  power,  the 
general  control  ofthe  society,  appear  to  have  con- 
sidered the  whole  concern  as  their  inheritance. 
Their  views  and  opinions  were  raised  into  a  stand- 
ard. Their  dictum  was  assumed  as  a  governing 
principle  and  no  limits  were  to  restrain  the  opera- 
tion of  their  designs.  Nothing  appears  to  have 
been  wanting  but  civil  power,  to  enable  them  to 
fulfil  the  models  delineated  by  their  prototypes  in 
ancient  times,  when  the  voice  of  superstitious  le- 
gitimacy resounded,  the  people  have  nothing  to 
do  with  church  or  state  but  to  obey  them. 

Let  us  attend  to  undeniable  fact.  We  have 
seen  that  in  the  8th  mo.  1822,  the  most  active 
members  ofthe  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  resolved 
themselves  into  a  private  conference,  and  under- 
took to  decide  both  in  relation  to  doctrine  and 
discipline,  at  the  expense  of  all  order  emanating 
from  any  institutions  of  the  society.      It  may 


174 


be  alleged  they  were  here  not  acting  in  any- 
public  character;  but  this  more  fully  confirms 
both  their  disposition  and  determination,  to  sub- 
ject the  society  to  their  unconditional  control: 
else,  why  act  inconsistent  with  their  public 
functions  and  private  duties,  in  covertly  moving 
forward  as  a  dark  body  to  interrupt  the  order 
and  harmony  of  society. 

We  have  seen  these  men  in  1823,  bringing 
into  action  all  their  zeal  and  power,  to  introduce, 
through  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  the  sub- 
stance of  their  school  acumen  and  notional  opin- 
ions of  theology,  as  a  future  standard  of  doctrinal 
faith,  which  might  sanction  ulterior  movements 
in  the  adoption  and  consolidation  of  their  exclu- 
sive system.  So  sanguine  were  they  in  the 
wisdom  of  their  plan,  and  so  sure  of  success,  that 
an  edition  of  their  work  was  printed,  and  copies 
of  it  are  said  already  to  have  been  transmitted 
to  England,  even  before  it  was  covertly  submit- 
ted to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  which  so  promptly 
rejected  it.  These  facts  distinctly  express,  more 
certainly  than  any  form  of  words,  that  the  duties 
of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  by  the  agency  of 
a  few  active  leaders,  were  strangely  perverted 
from  the  original  purpose,  and  instead  of  listen- 
ing to  the  calls  of  their  constituents,  the  members 
of  that  meeting  in  effect  declared  themselves  an 


175 


independent  body.  What  other  construction 
can  be  put  upon  the  rejection  of  the  nomination 
of  the  Southern  Quarter.  This  construction  is 
justified;  by  the  subsequent  procedure  of  those 
who  continued  to  act  as  the  Meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings in  the  second  week  of  4th  mo.  1828. 

We  have  distinctly  seen  the  origin  of  this  meet- 
ing, that  it  was  nothing  more  than  a  committee 
formed  by  representatives  from  the  Yearly  and 
Quarterly  Meetings,  and  never  had,  nor  can  have 
any  just  power  but  what  is  derived  from  its  con- 
stituents, who  are  the  general  Jbody  of  society. 
The  general  body  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in 
recurrence  to  first  principles,  having  been  com- 
pelled, by  the  irregular  proceedings  of  the  ortho 
dox  party,  to  reorganize  the  Yearly  Meeting  on 
the  ancient  foundation,  free  from  party  strife  and 
incumbrance,  was  in  session  in  regular  order, 
■representing  about  twenty  thousand  members,  at 
the  very  period  the  remnant  of  this  Meeting  for 
Sufferings  thought  proper  to  exercise  the  shadow 
of  its  former  power,  and  prepare  for  the  ac- 
ceptance of  their  adherents,  a  declaration  which 
goes  clearly  to  manifest  a  disposition  to  join  with 
the  ancient  opposers  of  Friends  in  an  effort  to  un- 
christianize  the  society.  What  else  could  be  the 
design  of  deliberately  declaring  and  publishing  to 
the  world,  by  every  means  in  their  power,  that  the 


176 


reorganised  Yearly  Meeting  that  had  dispensed 
with   their  services,  "  Openly  deny  the  funda- 
mental doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion,  as  they 
are  laid  down  by  our  blessed  Redeemer  and  his 
apostles  in  the  Holy  Scriptures."     This  charge, 
and  others  of  similar  character,  are  believed  only 
to  be  the  Shibboleth  of  party  distinction,  or  the 
exhibition  of  a  specious  pretence  for  doings  un- 
justifiable on  any  acknowledged  principles  of  the 
Society.     It  is  hardly  possible  for  these  men  to 
force  their  minds  actually  to  believe  that  the 
great  body   of  Friends  have  departed  from  the 
sensibilities  of  Truth,  and  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  society.     Notwithstanding  the  derelic- 
tion of  their  accusers  from  the  accustomed  rela- 
tions of  society,  there  is  sufficient  weight  of  reli- 
gious character  left  to  put  to  the  Blush  the  pro- 
moters of  such  deliberate  and  unfounded  slander. 
The  charges  made  can  only  be  regarded  by  the 
dispassionate  as  the  fleeting  ebullitions  of  party 
prejudice,  combined  with  a  selfish  policy  to  de- 
fend their  cause  by   accusing  their   brethren. 
All  the  forced  constructions  and  representations 
from  isolated  extracts,  and    external   consider- 
ations, will  fail  to  invalidate  the  christian  princi- 
ples of  Friends,  if  by  habitual  example  they  afford 
a  practical  evidence  that  their  faith  stands  not 
in  word  only,  but  in  that  virtue  of  truth  whic" 
srivps  victorv  over  evil. 


177 


It  is  no  wonder  these  men  seek  a  defence  in 
Doctrinal  controversy,  and  cover  their  preten- 
sions with  the  veil  of  notional  speculation.  Ha- 
bitual deviation  in  practice,  will  ever  lead  from 
the  simplicity  of  correct  principle.  Friends  do 
not  question  their  accusers  respecting  their  faith; 
they  do  not  in  the  least  wish  to  circumscribe  the 
exercise  of  it  towards  God  in  a  pure  conscience; 
but  if  they  have  stronger  faith  than  their  brethren, 
let  them  have  it  to  themselves  and  show  it  by  its 
fruits.  Unhappily  the  fruits  brought  forth  have 
greatly  tended  to  lessen  all  confidence  either  in 
the  purity  or  superiority  of  their  faith.  Does  it 
accord  with  any  fruit  of  the  Gospel  spirit  for  a  few 
individuals  to  arrogate  to  themselves  all  the  sound- 
ness of  christian  principle  in  the  society,  and 
upon  that  assumption  claim  absolute  power  to 
rule  unrestrained?  This  certainly  furnishes  an 
affecting  evidence  of  the  desolating  consequences 
resulting  from  that  spirit  of  insubordination  to  the 
principles,  and  wonted  practice  of  the  society  of 
Friends,  which  some  of  these  men  have  so  long 
persisted  in  to  the  violation  of  its  peaceable  testi- 
mony. 

The  late  "Declaration,"  said  to  be  prepared  in 

the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  fraught  as  it  is  with 

virulent  misrepresentations  against  the  principal 

body  of  Friends  composing  Philadelphia  Yearly 

23 


178 


Meeting,  is  evidently  the  production  of  a  mind 
much  heated  with  party  animosity .  Glossed  over 
with  the  sophisms  of  orthodoxy,  it  was  evident- 
ly passed  through  the  meetings  whose  name  ft 
bears,  as  a  lit  instrument  to  ensure  the  present 
purpose  of  exhibiting  an  imposing  appearance  he- 
fore  the  public.  It  must  however,  vanish  before 
the  light  of  truth  like  the  fleeting  mists  of  the 
morning  before  the  rising  sun. 

It  is  not  supposed  that  even  the  greater  number 
remaining  in  the  Mreeting  for  Sufferings  cordially 
approve  of  all  the  doings  of  their  active  leaders,  or 
are  sufficiently  aware  of  the  tendency  of  their  con- 
duct, much  less  arc  all  the  other  members  of  society 
still  adhering  to  them.  There  are  many  sober  judi- 
cious Friends  who  are  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the 
real  s^ate  of  things,  whose  minds  are  brought  un- 
der great  perplexity  and  suffering,  and  are  held 
in  a  grievous  state  of  bondage.  Their  fears  are 
awakened  by  the  spurious  representations  of  un- 
soundness, and  the  deceitful  exhibition  of  views 
the  same  in  substance,  but  differing  in  words  or 
terms.  The  devoted  partizans  of  orthodoxy 
seem  to  cling  with  fastidious  adherence  to  the 
outward  circumstances  and  externals  of  the  chris- 
tian dispensation,  as  if  salvation  depended  on  a 
correct  apprehension  of  the  letter  or  terms;  while 
Friends,  without  calling  these  in  question,  prin- 


179 


cipally  direct  the  attention  to  the  original  prin- 
ciple of  all  truth,  and  particularly  insist  on  the 
necessity  of  experiencing  its  inward  power  and 
virtue.     The  orthodox  are  pleased  to  call  this  tfa 
refined  spirituality/"  and  designate  it  as  the  fruit- 
ful source  of  that  defection  from  their  influence  and 
power,  which  they  so  much  deplore.   But  did  not 
Friends  always  helieve  in  the  spirituality  of  the 
kingdom  of  Christ?  Has  it  not  always  been  the  dis- 
tinguishing principle  of  the  Society,  that  every 
one  possesses  a  seed  of  the  kingdom  in  a  measure  of 
divine  light,  life,  or  grace?  Are  not  the  orthodox 
also  ultimately  obliged  to  admit  a  belief  in  the  ope- 
ration of  the  divine  spirit,as  the  effective  means  of 
salvation?  Where  then  is  the  difference  in  point  of 
substance.     It  seems  only  a  misunderstanding  of 
terms:  but  it  is  feared  that  in  many  instances 
wilful  perversion  is  resorted  to,  in  order  to  pro- 
mote the  appearance  of  difference  where  in  real- 
ity there  is  none. 

It  is  not  the  intention  of  the  writer  to  enter  into 
doctrinal  controversy.  He  has  a  testimony  a- 
gainst  it;  believing  that  opinionated  speculation 
seldom  stands  in  connexion  with  practical  piety. 
It  is  time  for  christian  professors  to  learn,  that 
to  our  own  Master  we  stand  or  fall,  and  that  all 
saving  faith  is  the  gift  of  God.  If  we  would  se- 
dulously emulate   each  other  in  labours  of  love, 


180 


charity,  and  brotherly  kindness,  it  would  sooner 
draw  to  the  true  centre  of  unity,  than  all  the  la- 
boured criticisms  on  words  or  the  dissection  of 
terms,  demolishing  one  opinion  to  rebuild  ano- 
ther. Doubtful  disputations  may  sharpen  the 
wit,  and  bring  into  action  the  deceit  of  ingenuity; 
but  will  never  better  the  heart  nor  improve  the 
dispositions  of  any. 

For  the  sake  of  those  tried  minds  who  have 
been  imposed  upon  by  the  representations  of  un- 
soundness, arising  from  speculation  of  equivocal 
terms,  directed  in  a  way  to  make  it  appear,  that 
Friends  deny  the  divinity  of  Christ  while  they 
lay  claim  to  the  doctrine  of  the  spirit,  the  ju- 
dicious views  of  Thomas  Ciarkson  on  the  subject, 
as  exhibited  in  his  Portraiture  of  Quakerism,  vol . 
2nd.  chap.  9th,  are  annexed. 

"The  Quakers,  then,  believe  that  the  spirit 
of  God  formed  or  created  the  world.     They  be- 
lieve that  a  portion  of  it  was  given  to  men,  after 
this  creation,  as  a  guide  to  them  in  their  spiritual 
concerns.     They  believe  that  this  portion  of  it 
was  continued  to  them  after  the  deluge,  in  the 
same  manner  and  for  the  same  purposes,  to  the 
time  of  Christ.     It  was  given,  however,  in  this 
interval  to  different  persons  in  different  degrees. 
Thus  Moses  was  more  illuminated  by  it  than  his 
cotemporaries:  for  it  became  through  him    the 


181 


author  of  the  law.  Thus  the  prophets  receiv- 
ed a  greater  portion  of  it  than  ordinary  persons 
in  their  own  times.  In  the  time  of  Christ  it 
continued  the  same  office;  but  it  was  then  given 
more  diffusively  than  before,  and  also  more  diffu- 
sively to  some  than  to  others.  Thus  the  evan- 
gelists and  apostles  received  it  in  an  extraordi- 
nary degree;  and  it  became  through  them,  and 
Jesus  Christ,  their  head,  the  author  of  the  gospel. 
But,  besides  its  office  of  a  spiritual  light  and 
guide  to  men  in  their  spiritual  concerns,  during 
all  the  period  now  assigned,  it  became  to  them, 
as  they  attended  to  its  influence,  an  inward  Re- 
deemer, producing  in  them  a  new  birth,  and 
leading  them  to  perfection.  And  as  it  was  thus 
both  a  guide  and  inward  redeemer  so  it  has  con- 
tinued these  offices  to  the  present  day." 

"  Now  an  objection  will  be  made  to  the  propo- 
sition, as  I  have  just  stated  it,  by  some  Christians* 
and  even  by  those,  who  do  not  wish  to  derogate 
from  the  spirit  of  God,  (for  I  have  frequently 
heard  it  started  by  such,)  that  the  Quakers,  by 
means  of  these  doctrines,  make  every  thing  of 
the  spirit,  and  but  little  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  shall 
therefore  notice  this  objection  in  this  place,  not 
so  much  with  a  view  of  answering  it,  as  of  attempt' 
ing  to  show,  that  Christians  have  not  always  a 
right  apprehension  of  scriptural  terms,  and  there- 


182 


fore  that  they  sometimes  quarrel  with  one  another 
about  trifles;  or  rather,  that  when  they  have  dis- 
putes with  each  other,  there  is  sometimes  scarce- 
ly a  shade  of  difference  between  them. 

To  those  who  make  the  objection  I  shall  des- 
cribe the  proposition,  which  has  been  stated  a- 
bove,  in  different  terms.  I  shall  leave  out  the  words 
i  Spirit  of  God/  and  I  shall  wholly  substitute 
the  term  '  Christ.'  This  I  shall  do  upon  the 
authority  of  some  of  our  best  divines.  The  pro- 
position will  then  run  thus: 

God,  by  Christ,  created  the  world,  "for  with- 
out him  was  not  any  thing  made  that  was  made." 

He  made,  by  Christ  also,  the  terrestial  globe, 
on  which  we  live.  He  made  the  whole  host  of 
heaven.  He  made  therefore,  besides  our  own, 
other  planets  and  other  worlds. 

He  caused  also,  by  Christ,  the  generation  of 
all  animated  nature,  and  of  course  of  the  life 
and  vital  powers  of  man, 

He  occasioned  also,  by  the  same  Christ,  the 
generation  of  reason  or  intellect,  and  of  a  spiritual 
faculty,  to  man. 

Man,  however,  had  not  long  been  created  be- 
fore he  fell  into  sin.  It  pleased  God,  therefore, 
that  the  same  Christ,  which  had  thus  appeared 
in  creation,  should  strive  inwardly  with  man, 
and  awaken  his  spiritual  faculties,   by  which  he 


183 


might  be  able  to  know  good  from  evil,  and  to  ob- 
tain inward  redemption  from  the  pollutions  of 
sin.  And  this  inward  striving  of  Christ  was  to 
be  with  every  man,,  in  after  times,  so  that  all 
would  be  inexcusable,  and  subjected  to  condem- 
nation, if  they  sinned." 

(i  From  this  new  statement  of  the  proposition, 
which  statement  is  consistent  with  the  language 
of  divines,  it  will  appear  that,  if  the  Quakers 
have  made  every  thing  of  the  Spirit,  and  but 
little  of  Christ,  I  have  made,  to  suit  the  objectors, 
every  thing  of  Christ,  and  but  little  of  the  Spirit. 
Now  I  would  ask,  Where  lies  the  difference  be- 
tween the  two  statements?  Which  is  the  more 
accurate?  or  whether,  when  I  say  these  things 
were  done  by  the  Spirit,  and  when  I  say  that 
they  were  done  by  Christ,  I  do  not  state  precise- 
ly the  same  proposition,  or  express  the  same 
thing. 

That  Christ,  in  all  the  offices  stated  by  the  pro- 
position, is  neither  more  nor  less  than  the  spirit 
of  God,  there  can  surely  be  no  doubt.  In  looking 
at  Christ,  we  are  generally  apt  to  view  him  with 
carnal  eyes.  We  can  seldom  divest  ourselves  of 
the  idea  of  a  body  belonging  to  him,  though  this 
was  confessedly  human,  and  can  seldom  consider 
him  as  a  pure  Principle  or  Fountain  of  Divine 
Light  and  Life  to  men.     And  yet  it  is  obvious, 


184 


that  we  must  view  him  in  this  light  in  the  present 
ease;  for,  if  he  was  at  the  creation  of  the  world 
or  with  Moses  at  the  delivery  of  the  law,  (which 
the  proposition  supposes,)  he  could  not  have  been 
there  in  his  carnal  body,  because  this  was  not 
produced  till  centuries  afterwards  from  the  Vir- 
gin Mary.  In  this  abstracted  light  the  apostles 
frequently  view  Christ  themselves.  Thus  St. 
Paul:  "  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in 
me.'7*  And  again:  "Know  ye  not  your  own- 
selves,  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye 
be  reprobates?"!  Now  no  person  imagines  that 
St.  Paul  had  any  idea,  that  the  body  of  Christ 
was  either  in  himself,  or  in  others,  on  the  occa- 
sions on  which  he  has  thus  spoken. 

That  Christ,  as  he  held  the  offices  contained 
in  the  proposition,  was  the  spirit  of  God,  we 
may  pronounce  from  various  views,  which  we 
may  take  of  him,  all  of  which  seem  to  lead  us  to 
the  same  conclusion. 

And  first  let  us  look  at  Christ  in  the  scriptural 
light,  in  which  he  has  been  held  forth  to  us  in 
the  fourth  section  of  the  seventh  chapter,  where  I 
have  explained  the  particular  notions  of  the  Qua- 
kers relative  to  the  new  birth.  God  may  be 
considered  here  as  having  produced,  by  means  of 

;    *  Galat.  ii,  20.  f  2  Cor.  xiii,  5. 


185 


his  Holy  Spirit,  a  birth  of  divine  life  in  the 
soul  of "  the  body  which  had  been  prepared," 
and  this  birth  was  Christ.  6.  But  that  which  is 
born  of  the  Spirit  /  says  St.  John,  <is  Spirit.'  * 
The  only  question  then  will  be  as  to  the  magni- 
tude of  the  Spirit  thus  produced.  In  answer  to 
this,  St.  John  says,  ii  that  God  gave  him  not  the 
Spirit  by  measure."!  And  St.  Paul  says  the 
same  thing:  "  For  in  him  all  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  dwelt  bodily."$  Now  we  can  have  no 
idea  of  a  Spirit  without  measure,  or  containing 
the  fulness  of  the  Godhead,  but  the  Spirit  of  God. 

Let  us  now  look  at  Christ  in  another  point  of 
view,  or  as  St.  Paul  seems  to  have  viewed  him. 
He  defines  Christ  to  be  "  the  wisdom  of  God 
and  the  power  of  God."§>  But  what  are  the 
wisdom  of  God  and  the  power  of  God,  but  the 
great  characteristics  and  the  great  constituent 
parts  of  his  spirit?" 

It  is  hoped  the  discerning  reader,  by  the  ap- 
plication of  the  above  extract,  will  perceive  that 
many  of  the  insinuations  of  unsoundness  against 
friends  arise  from  the  use  of  equivocal  terms,  and 
not  from  any  just  or  true  ground.  Friends  ad- 
here to  Scripture  terms,  and  the  primitive  lan- 
guage of  the  society,  in  relation  to  doctrinal  sub- 


*  John  iii,  6.     f  John  iii,  34     \  Coloss.  ii,  9.     \  1  Cor,  i,  24. 

24 


186 


jects,  whilst  the  orthodox  disputants  in  exhibit" 
ing  their  views  of  what  they  term  the  proper  Di- 
vinity of  Christ,  and  the  exercise  or  application 
of  his  mediatorial  offices,  appear  to  adopt  the 
phraseology  of  what  is  called  "the  reformed 
churches."  There  is  safety  in  keeping  to  the  form 
of  sound  words,  and  dwelling  under  that  influ- 
ence of  Truth,  which  preserves  in  "  a  pure 
language."  However  the  doctrinal  views  of  the 
orthodox  may  differ  from  the  simplicity  and  purity 
of  the  fundamental  principle  of  Friends,  it  should 
be  distinctly  understood  that  it  has  been  their  as- 
sumed power  in  disciplinary  practice  that  has,  of 
late,  so  much  agitated  the  society.  We  do  not 
censure  private  opinions;  but  claim  the  privilege 
of  noticing  those  public  fruits  brought  forth  in- 
jurious to  the  rights  of  others. 


187 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Dividing  causes  in  the  Yearly  Meeting 
of  Friends  held  in  Philadelphia  in 
the  fourth  month;  1827. 

The  disorganized  state  of  Philadelphia 
Quarterly  Meeting,  and  the  unprecedented 
and  over -bearing  measures  pursued  in  four  of 
the  city  Monthly  Meetings,  raised  a  deep  and 
feeling  interest  in  the  minds  of  many  Friends, 
through  the  several  Quarters  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing. They  felt  for  their  brethren  under  pros- 
cription and  oppression,  and  for  the  reputation 
and  even  the  safety  of  society.  It  was  apparent 
measures  were  in  progress  the  fulfilment  of  which 
would  greatly  affect  the  vital  interests  of  the 
society,  by  introducing  habits  of  arbitrary  rule 
instead  of  that  mild  equitable  and  consistent  ad- 
ministration of  discipline  which  is  indispensable 
to  the  very  nature  and  ends  of  religious  fellow- 
ship. It  was  not  difficult  to  foresee,  that  if  those 
calling  themselves  orthodox  succeeded  in  their 
views  and  plans  in  the  city,  the  same  system  would 


be  extended  to  the  country  Quarters.     It  was 
well  known  that  great  exertions  had  been  made, 
for  some  years,  to  secure  the  interest  of  leading 
members  in  the  country,  by  means  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  and  by  anon- 
ymous publications,   exhibiting  distorted  repre- 
sentations in  relation  to  matters  of  fact,  as  well 
as  doctrines.  Agreeably  to  the  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  orthodoxy,  if  a  few  prominent  characters 
were  firmly  secured  in  the  several  Quarters,  their 
system  would  go  into  operation  without  any  con- 
trol.    If  the  elders  and  members  of  the  Meeting 
for  Sufferings,  were  sufficiently  active  to  secure 
the  clerk  and  to  direct  him  in  their  several  meet- 
ings, no  difficulty  was  anticipated  in  regard  to  the 
body  of  society,  whose  feelings  were   not  to  be 
consulted    or  regarded.      Unblushing  attempts 
had  already  been  made,  to   render  both  elders 
and  members  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  inde- 
pendent of  their   constituents,   and,  upon   the 
same  principle,  there  was  nothing  in  the  way  to 
render  clerks  of  the  several  meetings,  permanent 
also.     A  distinct  and  separate  order  of  persons 
engrossing  all  the  direction  of  the  affairs  of  socie- 
ty, would  divest  others  of  their  disciplinary  func- 
tions and  then  where  would  be  the  security  of 
individual  rights  and  liberty  of  conscience? 
These  were  not  visionary   fears.     Previous  to 


189 


the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1827,  they  had,  in  the 
city,  been  realized.  A  great  portion  of  the  city 
members  had  often  been  declared  unsound,  and 
were  not  to  be  heard  or  regarded.  They  were 
virtually  disfranchised,  many  of  them  were  pro- 
scribed, some  taken  under  dealing,  on  frivolous 
pretexts,  and  in  a  short  time  those  denominated 
disaffected,  or  who  would  not  yield  to  the  dictum 
of  orthodoxy,  were  to  be  "scattered  to  the  four 
winds  of  heaven,  as  the  dust  of  the  summer  thres- 
ing  floor." 

Such  were  the  attitude,  the  menaces,  and  doings 
of  orthodoxy  in  the  society  of  Friends,  in  the 
spring  of  1827,  within  the  limits  of  the  Yearly- 
Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia.  From  its  origin 
in  a  selfish  and  exclusive  spirit,  we  have  traced 
the  progress  of  orthodoxy,  and  may  distinctly 
perceive,  that  it  occupies  the  same  place  in  relig- 
ious society,  that  aristocracy  does  in  civil  and 
political  life.  They  are  twin  brothers,  produced 
by  power  superceding  right>  and  form  the  chief 
support  of  tyranny,  and  the  very  essence  of  ar- 
bitrary rule. 

From  a  knowledge  of  facts  already  transpir 
ed,  and  the  gloomy  forebodings  of  the  future 
movements  of  that  discordant  and  unfeeling 
spirit,  which  had  produced  such  desolating 
ravages  on  the  peace  of  the  society,  it  was  not 


190 


surprising  that  the  sensibilities  and  sympathies 
of  many   Friends  were   particularly  awakened 
in  feeling  solicitude,  for  the  application  of  those 
means  neccessary  to  interrupt  the  progress  of  ir- 
regular proceedings,  and  to  deliver  the  society 
from  the  reproach  resulting  from  the  painful  dis- 
orders that  prevailed.  The  subject  matter  in  rela 
tion  to  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  which  had 
so  long  distracted  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, and  which  was  referred  to  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, it  was   hoped  would   bring  into  action  the 
constitutional  powers  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  to 
correct  abuses,  and  stem  the  torrent  of  irregular 
procedure,  produced  by  the  aberrations  of  or- 
thodoxy, seeking  the  gratification  of  its  own  will. 
But  such  was  the  excited  and  deteriorated  state 
of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  that  instead  of  being  able 
to  act  consistent  with  its  own  dignity,  and  place 
judgment  upon  the  spirit  of  disorder  and  misrule, 
it  confessed  its  incompetency  to  lay  hold  on  sub- 
jects brought  by  minute  before  it. 

In  the  first  sitting  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  a  presage  was  given  by  the 
orthodox  party  that  they  were  determined  at  all 
hazards  to  pursue  their  accustomed  course  of  ex- 
clusive party  measures.  An  abatement  in  the 
answer  to  the  query  respecting  the  soundness  of 
the  ministry  being  purposely  brought  from  Phila- 


191 


delphia  Quarter  was  made  the  pretext  to  nominate 
a  committee  to  go  down  to  the  select  Quarterly 
and  Preparative  Meetings,  although  the  answers 
from  all  the  other  Quarters  were  satisfactory. 
The  exception  in  that  from  Philadelphia  Quarter 
was  brought  up  from  Pine  street  Preparative  Meet 
ing,  where  it  is  well  known  there  was  no  objection 
to  their  own  ministers,  and  of  course  it  was  introdu 
ced  to  answer  an  ulterior  purpose.  The  opposition 
to  the  proposal,  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  elders  was  decided  and  unrelaxed,  from  an 
entire  conviction  that  it  was,  in  all  its  bearings, 
a  distinct  party  measure.  What  was  to  be  ex- 
pected from  vesting  with  authority,  and  sending 
down  to  Quarterly  and  Preparative  Meetings  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  individuals  who  had  so  long 
violated  all  discipline  and  decorum  by  carrying 
measures  over  the  heads  of  their  brethren;  and 
what  possible  object  can  we  conceive  in  such  an 
appointment,  but  to  legalise  their  own  assumption 
and  unjust  domination?  Individuals  who  had 
long  been  aggressors,  were  to  be  invested  with  a 
commission  to  judge  what  and  who  were  sound, 
and  to  establish  their  favourite  dogmas  over  the 
heads  of  innocent  and  consistent  Friends! 

Notwithstanding  the  strong  opposition  expres- 
sed to  this  measure,  whilst  sober  and  judicious 
Friends  were  remonstrating  against  it,  the  clerk, 


192 


in  defiance  of  all  decorum,  filled  up  the  outlines 
of  his  own  conceptions  in  the  case,  and  recorded 
the  nomination  of  a  committee  congenial  with  the 
designs  of  his  party.  This  was  an  absolute 
forcible  measure  in  the  midst  of  an  assembly  pro- 
fessing the  principle  of  non-resistance,  and  many 
solid  and  judicious  Friends  saw  there  was  no  hope 
left,  that  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  its  present  state 
could  answer  the  purposes  of  its  institution. 

At  a  subsequent  sitting  a  Friend  proposed  a 
reconsideration  of  this  arbitrary  measure  —  thus 
affording  the  orthodox  party  an  opportunity  of 
retracing  their  steps,  and  of  mingling  in  condes- 
cension with  their  brethren;  but  they  remained 
deaf  to  the  voice  of  entreaty  and  conciliation, 
and  by  their  unbending  obstinacy  forever  can- 
celled the  bond  of  union. 

The  general  Yearly  Meeting  met  at  the  usual 
time,  and  passed  the  first  sitting  in  the  custom- 
ary way.  The  representatives  from  the  several 
Quarters,  were  as  usual,  directed  to  bring  for- 
ward to  next  sitting  the  name  of  a  suitable  Friend 
to  serve  the  meeting  as  clerk,  and  one  to  assist 
him.  They  occupied  all  the  time  between  the 
fore  and  afternoon  sittings,  without  being  able  to 
come  to  any  agreement  on  the  nomination  of  a 
clerk.  The  orthodox  party  knew  that  their 
success  depended  upon  the  former  clerk,  who  had 


193 


always  assiduously  devoted  himself  to  the  sup- 
port of  their  views.  On  the  contrary  the  general 
body  of  Friends  fully  believed  that  the  correction 
of  existing  abuses  greatly  depended  upon  a  dis- 
interested and  upright   clerk,  who  would  take 
the  general  voice  of  the  meeting  in  deciding 
cases.     It  was  ascertained  there  were  about  two 
thirds  of  the  representatives  Friends,  and   one 
third  orthodox.     The  latter  although  they  did 
not  represent  one   sixth  of  the  society  yet  they 
continued  to  debate  with  and  amuse  the  represen- 
tatives until  Friends  again  generally  assembled, 
expecting  by  this  means  to  secure  the  continuance 
of  the  former  clerk.  In  the  opening  of  the  after- 
noon sitting  an  individual  stated,  that  the  repre- 
sentatives could  not  agree  on  any  name  for  clerk, 
But  it  did  not  appear  that   the  representatives 
agreed  upon  any  report  whatever,   as  the  great- 
er part  of  them  were  interrupted  while  in  the  act 
of  forming  a  report,  by  one  of  the  committee 
opening  the  door  and  giving  admission  to  the  mem- 
bers who  were  collected  without.     Some  of  the 
representatives  explicitly  stated  in  the  meeting, 
that  no  individual  had  been  authorized  to  report 
that  they  (the  representatives)  could  not  agree 
— that  on  the   contrary  they  had  not   finished 
their  business,  and  expected  to  meet  again  to 

prepare  a  report. 

25 


194 


Some  individuals  of  the  orthodox  party  may 
have  agreed  among  themselves  to  make  such  a  re- 
port, and  this  they  probably  did  on  the  presump- 
tion that  it  would  be  a  means  of  continuing  the  for- 
mer clerk.  Accordingly  an  ancient  Friend  men- 
tioned his  having  attended  the  meeting  sixty 
years  and  that  when  the  representatives  could  not 
agree  the  former  clerk  had  always  been  continu- 
ed. But  the  truth  is,  there  never  had  been  an 
instance  of  the  representatives  not  being  able  to 
agree  but  on  the  present  occasion,  which  proves 
the  above  declaration  to  be  without  any  proper 
application.  Upon  this  solid  ground,  however,  the 
former  clerk,  with  a  full  knowledge  that  he  was 
not  acceptable  to  the  general  body  of  the  meeting, 
had  the  magnanimity  to  record  his  name  as  the 
self  constituted  organ  of  a  party  whose  system 
of  action  was  every  day  more  clearly  marking 
their  departure  from  the  unity  of  the  society! 
Owing  to  the  distracted  state  of  the  meeting, 
arising  from  the  irreconcilable  dissent  of  a  party 
from  the  unity  of  the  body,  a  Friend  proposed  on 
the  next  morning,  an  indefinite  adjournment, 
hoping  time  might  have  the  effect  to  cool  the 
minds  of  active  individuals,  and  bring  them  into 
that  serious  consideration,  wherein  a  way  might 
open  for  the  restoration  of  that  unity  which  is 
indispensable  to  transacting  the  affairs  of  religious 


195 

society  in  a  consistent  manner.  This  proposition 
was  very  generally  approved,  but  could  not  be 
carried  into  effect,  for  the  obvious  reason  that  it 
did  not  accord  with  the  views  of  the  orthodox. 
They  in  fact  retained  the  meeting  in  session  to 
effect  their  own  purposes,  and  having  possession 
of  the  books,  they  persisted  in  the  direction  of  the 
business,  contrary  to  the  voice  of  £he  greater 
number  of  the  members.  Thus  Philadelphia 
Yearly  Meeting  had  arrived  at  a  crisis  when  its 
regular  operation  was  interrupted  by  the  impos- 
ing weight  of  a  party,  wrapping  themselves  up 
in  their  separate  interests,  regardless  of  the 
voice  or  rights  of  the  general  body  of  their  fellow 
members.  This  state  of  things  required  all  the 
patience  and  equanimity  of  Friends,  and  brought 
many  into  close  exercise  that  they  might  be  en- 
abled to  bear  their  burthen  consistently  with  the 
nature  of  their  peaceable  testimony,  till  a  way  of 
deliverance  might  open  in  clearness.  This  ex- 
ercised patient  state  of  mind,  induced  Friends 
to  remain  quiet  spectators,  to  see  what  the  party 
assuming  the  power  and  direction  would  do,  and 
so  far  were  they  from  manifesting  any  unbecom- 
ing resentment  at  being  despoiled  and  deprived  of 
their  rights,  that  they  mingled  sympathies  with 
their  opposers  by  freely  contributing  to  the  re- 
lief of  Friends  in  North  Carolina,  who  were  about 


196 


removing  to  a  more  safe  asylum,  the  coloured 
people  under  their  care. 

The  orthodox  party  were  sensible  that  their 
proceedings  in  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in  forcibly 
nominating  a  clerk  and  taking  the  direction 
of  the  business,  were  unconstitutional  as  they 
openly  acknowledged  their  incompetency  to  take 
hold  of  the  subjects  which  came  up  on  the  min- 
utes from  several  of  the  Quarterly  Meetings.  The 
cases  from  Bucks,  Abington,  and  the  Southern 
Quarters  were  dismissed.  The  case  from  Phila- 
delphia Quarter  respecting  Green  street  Monthly 
Meeting  was,  however,  designedly  referred  back 
to  that  Quarter,  and  consequently  left  those  two 
latter  meetings  under  their  former  difficulties, 
without  any  hope  of  relief.  This  circumstance 
must  stand  as  an  additional  evidence  of  that  in- 
veterate prejudice  and  want  of  generosity  which 
have  so  much  characterized  the  orthodox  party  in 
their  assumption  of  power.  If  it  had  not  been 
to  gratify  their  own  selfishness  why  not  dismiss 
the  case  from  Philadelphia  Quarter  in  the  same 
way  as  the  cases  from  the  other  Quarters?  The 
fact  was,  the  same  individuals  of  the  party  being 
the  active  agents  both  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  and 
Philadelphia  Quarter,  it  was  placing  the  case  back 
into  their  own  hands,  that  they  might  without  res- 
traint, accomplish  their  designs  against  Green 
street  Monthly  Meeting. 


197 


Their  last  act  in  the  name  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing was  confessedly  a  distinct  party  measure —  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  out  of  their  ranks,  to 
go  down  to  the  Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meetings 
for  the  purpose  of  subjecting  these  to  their  control 
and  to  establish  the  absolute  power  of  orthodoxy 
in  the  Yearly  Meeting  and  all  its  branches.  The 
nomination  of  this  committee  was  a  violation  of 
the  voluntary  concession  previously  made,  that 
the  meeting  was  not  in  a  state  to  take  any  active 
step,  which  was  the  reason  advanced  for  dismissing 
the  business  that  came  up  from  the  Quarters,  and 
ought  certainly  to  have  stood  as  abar  to  the  adop- 
tion of  any  new  measure-  This  self-appointed 
committee,  in  its  progress,  was  generally  rejected 
by  the  different  meetings,  as  the  mere  tool  of  a 
party. 

When  the  representatives  could  not  agree  res- 
pecting the  choice  of  a  clerk,  no  legal  organiza- 
tion nor  action  could  take  place  in  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  until  that  question  was  fairly  settled. 
The  whole  proceedings  of  the  orthodox  party  in 
conjunction  with  the  clerk,  who  acted  for  them, 
were  out  of  order,  and  entirely  void  in  regard  to  the 
Yearly  Meeting;  for  that  society  which  is  no  lon- 
ger able  to  act  in  agreement  with  its  first  princi- 
ples, and  which  absolutely  abandons  them,  de- 
stroys by  its  own  power  and  operations  its  entire 
character  and  standing. 


198 


The  interuption  of  the  regular  operation  of 
the  Yearly  Meeting  by  the  determined  zeal  of 
the  orthodox  brethren,  was  cause  of  painful  exer- 
cise to  many  Friends,  who,  under  the  pressure  of 
the  existing  state  of  the  society,  were  drawn  into 
deep  sympathy  with  one  another,  desirous  for  best 
direction  how  to  proceed  under  circumstances  of 
a  character  so  peculiarly  trying  and  unprece- 
dented in  the  annals  of  the  society.  Many  of 
the  representatives,  and  other  Friends,  met  lit 
conference,  and  after  deliberate  consideration 
judged  it  most  expedient  to  exhibit  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  large  an  outline  of 
the  actual  state  of  things,  and  to  invite  them  gene- 
rally to  meet  in  conference  on  the  first  second  day 
in  the  sixth  month,  that  all  might  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  deliberate,  and  feel  what  was  best  to  be 
done. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the 
prodeedings,  and  "Address  to  Friends  within 
the  compass  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  Phi- 
ladelphia," adopted  on  this  momentous  occasion. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  a  large  number  of  Friends, 
from  the  different  branches  of  the  Yearly  Meeting 
held  in  Philadelphia,  convened  at  Green  street 
meeting-house  on  the  19th  of  the  4th  month, 
1827,  to  confer  together  on  the  present  unsettled 


199 


state  of  the  society  of  Friends,  and  to  consider 
what  measures  it  may  be  proper  to  take,  in  the 
openings  of  Truth,  to  remedy  the  distressing  evil: 
after  a  solemn  pause,  and  under  a  deep  sense  of 
the  weighty  subject,  it  was  unitedly  concluded 
to  address  the  members  of  this  Yearly  Meeting 
on  the  affecting  occasion;  for  which  purpose  an 
essay  being  produced,  and  some  progress  made 
in  the  consideration  thereof,  the  meeting  ad- 
journed, to  meet  again,  by  Divine  permission,  to- 
morrow evening. 

4th  Month,  20th.  Friends  again  met,  and 
resumed  the  consideration  of  the  aforesaid  Ad- 
dress, which,  after  deliberate  attention,  wras,  with 
some  alterations,  unanimously  adopted,  when  the 
meeting  adjourned,  to  meet  again  to-morrow. 

4th  Month,  21st.  Friends  assembled,  pursuant 
to  adjournment.  The  essay  of  an  Address  being 
again  read,  and  weightily  considered,  it  was 
agreed  that  it  be  signed  on  behalf  of  this  meeting 
and  that  a  suitable  number  of  copies  thereof  be 
printed  for  distribution. 

To  Friends  within  the  compass  of  the  Year- 
ly Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia. 

Dear  Friends, 

The  members  of  the  society  of  Friends  have 
been  permitted,  in  time  past>  to   be  partakers 


200 


together,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  of  the  ex- 
cellent  effects  produced  by  the  power  of  that 
gospel   which  was  professed  and  lived  in  by  the 
apostles;  and  which,  after  a  long  night  of  aposta- 
cy,  was  embraced  by  our  worthy  ancestors.  We 
are  prepared  to  record  our  full  conviction,  that 
this  same  Gospel  continues  to  be  open  to  us,  and 
to  all  men,  and  is  u  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion" to  those  that  believe  in  and  obey  it.     Its 
blessed  fruits  are  love  to  God  and  love  to  man, 
manifested  in  life  and  conduct:  and  our  early 
Friends  gave  ample  proofs  of  the  tendency  and 
influence  of  the  "new   commandment"    which 
Christ  gave  to    his  Disciples  when  he  said,  "  A 
new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love 
one  another:  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love 
one  another."     Through  obedience  to  it,   they 
became  known  and  distinguished:  acting  under 
its  sacred  influence  and  government,  they   were 
made  powerful  instruments  in  opening  the  door 
of  gospel  liberty,  and  removing  many  of  the  fet- 
ters that  had  been  formed  in  the  dark  night  of 
superstition  and  error  that  preceded  them.  Hence 
they  were  prepared  to  promulgate  the  glorious 
truth,  that  God  alone  is  the  sovereign  Lord  of 
conscience,  and  that  with  this  unalienable  right, 
no  power,  civil  or  ecclesiastical,   should   ever 
interfere.     This  blessed  liberty   was  amply  en- 


201 

joyed  among  themselves;  and  through  faithful- 
ness— not  to  speculative  opinions,  but  to  the 
light  of  Christ  within — they  were  thus  united  in 
the  one  eternal,  unchangeable  spirit,  and  by  it 
became  of  one  heart  and  one  mind.  In  this  truly 
christian  state,  they  were  lights  in  the  world,  and 
as  a  city  set  on  an  hill  which  cannot  be  hid. 
Through  their  instrumentality,  with  the  blessing 
of  the  Almighty  upon  their  labours,  our  religious 
society  became  possessed  of  this  very  important 
spriritual  inheritance,  and  we  feel  bound  to  en- 
deavour to  preserve  it,  unfettered  by  the  hand  of 
man,  and  unalloyed  with  prescribed  modes  of 
faith,  framed  in  the  will  and  wisdom  of  the  crea- 
ture. 

With  this  great  object  in  view,  our  attention 
has  been  turned  to  the  present  condition  of  this 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  its  different  branches;  and, 
by  evidence  on  every  hand,  we  are  constrained 
to  declare,  that  the  unity  of  this  body  is  inter- 
rupted— that  a  division  exists  among  us,  devel- 
oping in  its  progress  views  which  appear  incom- 
patible with  each  other,  and  feelings  averse  to  a 
reconcilation.  Doctrines  held  by  one  part  of 
society,  and  which  we  believe  to  be  sound  and 
edifying,  are  pronounced  by  the  other  part  to  be 
unsound  and  spurious.  From  this  has  resulted  a 
state  of  things  that  has  proved  destructive  of 
26 


1i02 


peace  and  tranquility,  and  in  which  the  fruits  of 
love  and  condescension  have  been  blasted,  and 
the  comforts  and  enjoyments  even  of  social  inter- 
course greatly  diminished.  Measures  have  been 
pursued  which  we  deem  oppressive,  and  in  their 
nature  and  tendency  calculated  to  undermine  and 
destroy  those  benefits,  to  establish  and  perpetuate 
which,  should  be  the  purpose  of  every  religious 
association. 

It  is  only  under  the  influence  of  u  the  peaceable 
spirit  and  wisdom  of  Jesus"  that  discipline  can 
he  properly  administered,  or  the  affairs  of  the 
church  transacted  "with  decency"  and  in  order. 
This  blessed  influence  is  a  wall  of  defence,  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left,  protecting  all,  even 
the  weakest  of  the  flock;  and  within  this  sacred 
inclosure  our  rights  and  privileges  repose,  as  in 
the  bosom  of  society,  in  perfect  security.     On 
this  foundation  has  rested  that    excellent  order 
which  the  society  of  Friends  has  been  favoured, 
in  a  good  degree,  to  maintain  in  its  transactions; 
this  is  the  bond  that  has  united  its  members  to- 
gether, and  enabled  them  to  manage  all  their  con- 
cerns in " forbearance  and  love  of   each  other." 
But  this  blessed  order  has  been  infringed,  both  in 
the  present  Yearly  Meeting,   (producing  unex- 
ampled disorder  in  some  of  its  sittings,)  and  in 
many  of  its  subordinate  branches,  and  has  proved 


J03 


a   fruitful   source  of  the  difficulties  that  now 
exist. 

It  is  under  a  solemn  and  deliberate  view  of  this 
painful  state  of  our  affairs,  that  we  feel  bound  to 
express  to  you,  under  a  settled  conviction  of 
mind,  that  the  period  has  fully  come  in  which 
we  ought  to  look  towards  making  a  quiet  retreat 
from  this  scene  of  confusion,  and  we  therefore  re- 
commend to  you  deeply  to  weigh  the  momentous 
subject,  and  to  adopt  such  a  course  as  Truth, 
under  solid  and  solemn  deliberation,  may  point 
to  in  furtherance  of  this  object,  that  our  Society 
may  again  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  its  rights 
and  privileges.  And  we  think  proper  to  re- 
mind you,  that  we  have  no  new  Gospel  to 
preach  5  nor  any  other  foundation  to  lay  than 
that  already  laid,  and  proclaimed  by  our  fore- 
fathers,  even  6i  Christ  within,  the  hope  of 
glory" — "the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom 
of  God."  Neither  have  we  any  other  system  of 
Discipline  to  propose,  than  that  which  we  alrea- 
dy possess,  believing  that,  whilst  we  sincerely 
endeavour  to  live  and  walk  consistently  with  our 
holy  profession,  and  to  administer  it  in  the  spirit 
of  forbearance  and  love,  it  will  be  found  sufficient 
for  the  government  of  the  church.  And  whilst 
we  cherish  a  reasonable  hope  to  see  our  Zion,  un- 
der the  Divine  blessing,  loosen  herself  ¥.  from  the 


204 


bands  of  her  neck,"  and  put  on  her  strength,  and 
.Jerusalem  her  u  beautiful  garments,"  and  our 
annual  and  other  assemblies  again  crowned  with 
that  quietude  and  peace  which  become  our 
christian  profession;  we  feel  an  ardent  desire  that 
in  all  our  proceedings  tending  to  this  end,  our 
conduct  towards  all  our  brethren  may,  on  every 
occasion,  be  marked  with  love  and  forbearance: 
that  when  reviled,  we  bless;  when  defamed,  we 
entreat;  and  when  persecuted,  that  we  suffer  it. 
Finally,  brethren,  we  beseech  you,  uby  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  all  speak 
the  same  thing,  and  that  there  be  no  divisions 
among  you;  but  that  ye  be  perfectly  joined  toge- 
ther, in  the  same  mind,  and  in  the  same  judg- 
ment." And,  now,  we  u  commend  you  to  God, 
and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to 
build  you  up,  and  to  give  you  an  inheritance 
among  all  them  which  are  sanctified." 

Signed  by   direction  and   on  behalf  of  the 
meeting  by 

John  Comly,  Joshua  Lippincott, 

.  Robert  Moore,         John  Hunt, 
William  Mode,         Stephen  Stephens, 
Richard  Barnard,     Joseph  G.  Rowland, 
John  Watson,  William  Wharton. 

(Buckingham.  J 


205 


Having  experienced,  in  the  several  sittings 
of  this  Conference,  a  confortable  evidence  of 
Divine  regard,  imparting  strength  and  encour- 
agement to  look  forward  to  another  friendly 
meeting  together,  this  Meeting  agrees  to  ad- 
journ to  the  first  second  day  in  the  sixth  month 
next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  morning,  at  Green  street 
meeting-house,  Philadelphia,  if  the  Lord  per- 
mit." 


306 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

OCCURRENCES  IN  CONNEXION  WITH  THE  GENE- 
RAL, MEETING  OF  FRIENDS  HELD,  BY  ADJOURN- 
MENTS, AT  GREEN  STREET  MEETING-HOUSE, 
IN  THE  CITY  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  ON  THE  4TH 
AND  5TH  DA.YS  OF  6TH  MONTH,  1827,  PURSU- 
ANT TO  AN  ADJOURNMENT  ON  THE  21  ST  OF 
FOURTH   MONTH    PREVIOUS. 

The  orthodox  party  have  inveighed  with  great 
virulence  against  Friends  meeting  in  conference, 
as  if  none  had  a  right  without  their  permission; 
which  affords  additional  evidence  of  their  unrea- 
sonable assumption,  in  attempting  to  limit  and 
impede  their  fellow  members  in  the  exercise  of 
just  rights  guaranteed  by  every  institution 
both  religious  and  civil  in  this  free  country. 
The  general  conference,  held  on  the  first  second 
day  of  the  sixth  month,  was  open  to  all  the 
members  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  without  ex- 
ception. The  orthodox  party  had  a  right  to 
attend  if  they  thought  proper,  and  take  a  part  in 
the  deliberations:  but  it  certainly  was  understood 
that  all  were  to  meet  on  the  ground  of  equality, 


207 


and  that  the  concurrent  views  and  feelings  of  the 
meeting  would  obtain  sanction,  conformably  to 
the  primitive  practice  of  the  society. 

The  general  body  of  Friends  attending  the 
late  Yearly  Meeting  saw  by  the  effects  produced 
that  great  deviations  from  the  principles  of  the 
society  had  taken  place,  and  felt  the  necessity  of 
recurring  to  first  principles  that  a  re-settlement 
in  love  and  condescension  might  be  experienced, 
and  the  society  be  preserved  in  accordance  with 
fundamental  principles.  A  general  sympathy  and 
fellow-feeling  became  renewedly  awakened,  and 
prevailed  amongst  Friends.  The  minds  of  many 
brethren  in  the  country  became  deeply  affected 
with  the  state  of  the  society  in  Philadelphia,  and 
their  hearts  being  opened  to  those  under  suffering 
and  bondage,  they  extended  a  kind  and  helping 
hand  to  them,  in  the  same  love  and  condescension 
which  had  always  heretofore  characterized  the 
society. 

Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  having  been 
long  disquieted  and  annoyed  by  the  menaces  of 
the  ruling  orthodox  party  in  Philadelphia  Quar- 
ter, and  having  seen  the  same  individuals  inter- 
rupt the  progress  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and 
return  back  to  Philadelphia  Quarter  the  case 
relating  to  Green  street  meeting;  after  deliberate 
consideration,  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  in 


208 


the  5th  month,  concluded  to  dissolve  its  con- 
nexion with  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting. 
A  minute  expressive  of  this  conclusion  was  made 
and  a  committee  appointed  to  give  information 
to  the  next  Quarterly  Meeting.  This  was  done 
by  one  of  the  Friends  appointed  to  that  service, 
who  also  laid  on  the  table  a  copy  of  the  Monthly 
Meeting's  minute  on  the  subject,  which  was  read. 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting  having  dissolved 
its  connexion  with  Philadelphia  Quarter,  came  to 
the  conclusion  to  apply  to  Abington  Quarterly 
Meeting  to  become  a  branch  thereof;  which, 
upon  a  full  and  deliberate  expression  of  the 
sense  of  that  meeting,  was  agreed  to,  and  a  copy 
of  the  minute  then  made  by  Abington  Quarterly 
Meeting  was  directed  to  be  sent  to  Green  street 
Monthly  Meeting,  as  one  of  its  branches. 

Radnor  Monthly  Meeting,  in  the  sueceeding 
month  for  similar  reasons,  and  in  the  same  way, 
also  dissolved  its  connexion  with  Philadelphia 
Quarter,  and  became  a  branch  of  Abington. 

The  great  pressure  of  the  existing  state  of  the 
society  tended  to  draw  the  minds  of  Friends  into 
near  sympathy  and  tender  feeling  for  one  anoth- 
er, and  thus  a  way  opened  for  relief  to  the  op- 
pressed, on  the  primitive  principle  of  love,  con- 
descension, and  brotherly  kindness.  A  number 
of  Friends,  members  of  Pine  street  Monthly 


209 


Meeting,  haying  long  considered  themselves  de- 
prived of  the  privileges  and  advantages  of  reli- 
gious society  by  the  intolerant  and  overbearing 
disposition  of  the  rulers  of  that  meeting,  after 
serious  and  deliberate  consideration,  concluded 
to  adopt  the  following  memorial  to  the  Monthly 
Meeting. 

<e  Dear  Friends, 

In  contemplating  the  state  of 
things  amongst  us,  we  have  been  seriously  affect- 
ed on  account  of  the  spirit  of  contention  that  ex- 
ists in  our  society. 

It  is  true,  circumstances  have  arisen  that  have 
produced  divisions  amongst  us,  and  we  fear  feel- 
ings have  been  indulged  which  are  sapping  those 
principles  of  christian  love  and  forbearance  that 
have  always  united  us  together;  and  as  those  diffi- 
culties, in  our  estimation,  affect  our  rights  and  our 
consciences,  it  does  not  seem  likely  that  such  a 
reconciliation  can  take  place  while  we  remain 
together,  as  would  tend  to  our  mutual  advantage 
and  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  truth  and  righ- 
teousness. 

It  has  been  repeatedly  urged  upon  us  "  that  a 
separation  must  take  place,"  that  "  we  can  have 
no  fellowship  together,"  and  after  much  patient 
forbearance  we  are  constrained  to  believe  that  this 

2? 


210 


is  lamentably  the  ease,  and  that  the  time  is  close 
at  hand  when  a  considerable  portion  of  our  mem- 
bers will  be  willing  to  seek  a  quiet  retreat  from 
those  scenes  of  contention,  which  have  of  late  in- 
terrupted the  peace  and  harmony  of  our  religious 
meetings. 

In  doing  this,  it  is  not  our  intention  to  remove 
from  our  places  of  residence,  or  to  disunite  our- 
selves from  the  society  of  Friends,  whose  funda- 
mental doctrines  we  sincerely  approve,  and 
whose  discipline  we  are  desirous  to  observe  and 
maintain. 

With  this  object  in  view,  and  as  members  of 
this  meeting,  possessing  equal  rights  and  interests 
in  its  property,  and  actuated  by  a  desire  to  pro  - 
mote  liberty  of  conscience,  and  peace  and  good 
will  to  all;  we  unite  in  requesting  an  equitable 
division  of  the  estate  belonging  to  the  Monthly 
Meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  meeting 
house  and  other  accommodations  necessary  for 
the  quiet  and  peaceful  enjoyment  of  those  bene- 
fits which  ought  to  be  the  object  of  every  reli- 
gions association." 

This  memorial  was  signed  by  forty -five  mem- 
bers, mostly  heads  of  families,  and  among  the 
most  respectable  persons  of  the  meeting,  and  was 
presented  in  an  appropriate  manner  to  the 
Monthly  Meeting  by  William  Wharton,  in  the 


211 


5  th  month,  L827.  It  was  not  however  permitted 
'  to  be  read,  nor  the  subject  matter  brought  into 
consideration,  but  was  referred  to  a  verbal  com- 
mittee for  their  report  at  a  subsequent  Monthly 
Meeting.  An  evident  disposition  appearing  to 
treat  the  application  with  contempt,  it  was  then 
asked  whether  certificates  of  membership  would 
be  granted  to  some  other  Monthly  Meeting 
which  might  be  disposed  to  receive  them?  This 
was  also  denied;  and  notwithstanding  the  memo- 
rial had  been  referred  to  a  committee,  it  was 
made,  before  the  return  of  another  Monthly 
Meeting,  the  ground  for  official  visits  from  the 
overseers  to  the  parties  concerned  in  it ! 

No  hope  of  reconciliation  remaining,  the  very 
endeavour  to  come  to  an  amicable  arrangement 
being  thus  construed  into  a  cause  of  offence, 
several  families  transferred  their  right  of  mem- 
bership to  Byberry  Monthly  Meeting,  which 
freely  received  them  without  certificates,  and 
taking  into  view  the  peculiarly  trying  situation  of 
Friends  in  the  city,  concluded  to  open  an  indul- 
ged Meeting  for  worship  for  their  accommoda- 
tion on  first  and  fourth  days.  A  meeting  was 
accordingly  opened  under  the  care  of  a  commit- 
tee of  Byberry  Monthly  Meeting,  on  the  third 
of  Sixth  month  in  Carpenters'  Hall;  it  being  the 
same  room  in  which  the  Congress  of  the  United 


212 

States  first  met  to  devise  means  for  delivering 
the  country  from  foreign  aggression. 

On  the  4th  of  Sixth  month,  the  general  con- 
ference met,  agreeably  to  adjournment,  at  Green 
street  meeting  house.  The  conference  in  the 
Fourth  month,  was  constituted  of  a  large  number 
of  the  representatives  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  and 
other  concerned  Friends,  who,  by  the  inter- 
ruption of  an  unbending  party  determined  to 
subject  every  proceeding  to  their  arbitrary  rule, 
had  been  deprived  of  holding  a  Yearly  Meeting, 
in  regular  order,  on  the  principles  and  practice 
of  the  society,  and  which  produced  a  necessity 
for  Friends  mutually  to  confer  together  in  order 
to  determine  what  should  be  done  for  the  restora- 
tion of  consistent  order,  in  the  exercise  of  disci- 
pline. After  sufficient  time  for  deliberate  and 
mature  consideration  on  the  trying  state  of  the 
society,  the  same  Friends,  in  company  with  many 
others  from  all  the  different  Quarters  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  again  met  in  mutual  sympathy 
to  feel  after  any  opening  which  might  be  pre- 
sented in  best  wisdom  for  removing  the  obstruc- 
tions which  had  taken  place,  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  accustomed  relations  of  the  society.  After 
a  time  of  solemn  and  deep  feeling,  a  free  inter- 
change of  views  and  sentiments  on  the  general 
state  of  the  society  took  place;  a  large  committee 


213 


was  appointed,  some  out  of  each  Quarter,  to  re- 
port the  particular  state  of  all  the  Quarters,  that 
the  true  condition  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  large 
might  be  fully  understood.  This  committee  was 
also  charged  with  the  consideration  of  the  best 
means  to  be  adopted  for  the  correcting  of  exist- 
ing abuses,  and  for  the  restoration  of  order  and 
harmony.  After  a  report  on  the  state  of  the 
different  Quarters,  the  committee  proposed,  as 
the  result  of  serious  and  mature  deliberation, 
that  as  the  Yearly  Meeting,  at  its  usual  time  of 
sitting,  had  been  so  sorrowfully  interrupted  and 
disorganized,  an  extra  session  should  be  held  in 
the  succeeding  tenth  month,  by  such  Quarterly 
and  Monthly  Meetings  as  might  be  prepared  for 
the  measure;  which  it  was  believed  would  have 
a  tendency  to  re-settle  the  society  in  quiet  and 
regular  order,  agreeably  to  wonted  practice. 
This  report  was  acceptable  to  Friends  assembled, 
and  the  proposal  unanimously  adopted.  A  com- 
mittee of  forty  Friends  was  then  appointed  to 
extend  such  counsel  to  the  members  in  the  seve- 
ral Quarters  as  their  situation  might  require  or 
way  open  for.  This  committee,  by  sub -divisions, 
attended  meetings  of  conference  throughout  the 
Quarterly  and  most  of  the  Monthly  Meetings  as 
they  came  in  course,  where  the  minds  of  Friends 


214 


were  turned  towards  the  re-organization  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting. 

A  door  of   relief   was   already    opened    for 
Friends  in  the  city,  by  several  of  the  country 
Monthly  Meetings   being    disposed  to  receive 
them    as    members    without    certificates,   well 
knowing  the  unconstitutional   and  unreasonable 
domination  the  orthodox  party  exercised  over  all 
who  could  not  submit  to  their  views.     Byberry 
Monthly  Meeting  had  already  received  several 
families,  principally  from  Pine  street  meeting, 
and  instituted  a  meeting  for  worship  for  their 
accommodation.     Darby  Monthly  Meeting  had 
also  received  a  number  of  families  without  certi- 
ficates, principally  from  the  Western  Monthly 
Meeting,  and  granted  them   the   privilege   of 
meeting  with  Friends  under  the  care  of  Byberry 
Monthly  Meeting,  which  was  cause  of  thank- 
fulness   to    many    minds    who    felt    that  they 
were  brought  under  great  oppression,  and  in 
danger  of  being  trodden  under  the  feet  of  those 
calling  themselves  orthodox,  and  who  had  en- 
grossed all  disciplinary  power  in  their  own  hands. 
This  indulged  meeting,  in  the  eighth  month,  with 
the  consent  of  Byberry  Monthly  Meeting  and 
Abington  Quarter,  resolved  itself  into  a  Monthly 
Meeting,  as  a  branch  of  Abington  Quarter,  which 
proved  an  additional  means  of  relief  to  many 


215 

Friends  in  the  city,  who  transferred  their  rights 
of  membership  to  it  as  way  opened.  / 

From  the  conference  held  in  the  6th  month,    I 
the  following  minute  and  epistle  were  issued  ex-   j 
pressive  of  the  concern  and  judgment  of  Friends 
assembled. 

"At  a  general  meeting  of  Friends,  held  by  ad- 
journments, at  Green  Street  meeting-house,  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  4th.  and  5th.  days 
of  the  6th  month,  1827,  pursuant  to  an  adjourn- 
ment in  the  fourth  month  last,  the  following  epistle 
was  adopted,  and  it  was  directed  that  seven  thou- 
sand copies  of  it  should  be  printed  and  circula- 
ted among  our  members.  The  Friends  who 
signed  the  epistle  were  requested  to  attend  to 
its  early  distribution. 


To  Friends  of  the  Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meet- 
ings within  the  compass  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing  held  in  Philadelphia. 

Dear  Friends, 

Having,  through  Divine  favour,  been  per- 
mitted to  meet  together,  pursuant  to  adjournment 
in  the  fourth  month  last,  the  state  of  our  religious 
society  was  again  brought  into  view.  The  wing 
of  Ancient  Goodness  being  sensibly  extended  over 
the  several  sittings  of  this  meeting,  we  have  been 


216 

enabled  weightily  to  consider  the  subjects  that 
came  before  us.  After  solemn  deliberation,  and  a 
free  interchange  of  sentiment,  it  was,  with  much 
unanimity,  agreed  to  recommend  the  following 
views  and  propositions  for  your  serious  conside- 
ration. 

The  principal  objects  of  our  religious  associ- 
ation, are  the  public  worship  of  God;  the  edifica- 
tion and  comfort  of  each  other;  the  strengthening 
of  the  weak,  and  the  recovery  of  those  who  have 
wandered  from  the  way  of  peace  and  safety. 

It  is  only  under  the  blessed  influence  of  gospel 
love  that  these  objects  can  be  attained.  When- 
ever any  among  us,  so  far  forsake  Xkns  fundamen- 
tal principle  of  our  union,  as  to  act  in  the  spirit 
of  strife  and  discord,  and  to  oppose  and  condemn 
their  brethren,  who  may  conscientiously  differ 
from  them  in  opinion,  they  break  the  bond  of  gos- 
pel fellowship,  and,  as  far  as  their  influence  ex- 
tends, frustrate  the  design  of  religious  society.  If 
such,  after  the  use  of  proper  means,  cannot  be 
reclaimed,  the  peace,  and  harmony,  and  welfare 
of  the  body,  require  that  they  should  be  separa- 
ted from  our  communion. 

The  apostle,  aware  of  the  evils  arising  from 
contention  in  religious  communities,  warned  his 
brethren  against  it,  declaring  that  '  where  envy- 
ing and  strife  is,  there  is  confusion  and  every  evil 


209 


Meeting,  haying  long  considered  themselves  de- 
prived of  the  privileges  and  advantages  of  reli- 
gious society  by  the  intolerant  and  overbearing 
disposition  of  the  rulers  of  that  meeting,  after 
serious  and  deliberate  consideration,  concluded 
to  adopt  the  following  memorial  to  the  Monthly 
Meeting. 

ie  Dear  Friends, 

In  contemplating  the  state  of 
things  amongst  us,  we  have  been  seriously  affect- 
ed on  account  of  the  spirit  of  contention  that  ex- 
ists in  our  society. 

It  is  true,  circumstances  have  arisen  that  have 
produced  divisions  amongst  us,  and  we  fear  feel- 
ings have  been  indulged  which  are  sapping  those 
principles  of  christian  love  and  forbearance  that 
have  always  united  us  together;  and  as  those  diffi- 
culties, in  our  estimation,  affect  our  rights  and  our 
consciences,  it  does  not  seem  likely  that  such  a 
reconciliation  can  take  place  while  we  remain 
together,  as  would  tend  to  our  mutual  advantage 
and  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  truth  and  righ- 
teousness. 

It  has  been  repeatedly  urged  upon  us  "  that  a 
separation  must  take  place,"  that  "  we  can  have 
no  fellowship  together,"  and  after  much  patient 
forbearance  we  are  constrained  to  believe  that  this 

27 


210 


is  lamentably  the  case,  and  that  the  time  is  close 
at  hand  when  a  considerable  portion  of  our  mem- 
bers will  be  willing  to  seek  a  quiet  retreat  from 
those  scenes  of  contention,  which  have  of  late  in- 
terrupted the  peace  and  harmony  of  our  religious 
meetings. 

In  doing  this,  it  is  not  our  intention  to  remove 
from  our  places  of  residence,  or  to  disunite  our- 
selves from  the  society  of  Friends,  whose  funda- 
mental doctrines  we  sincerely  approve,  and 
whose  discipline  we  are  desirous  to  observe  and 
maintain. 

With  this  object  in  view,  and  as  members  of 
this  meeting,  possessing  equal  rights  and  interests 
in  its  property,  and  actuated  by  a  desire  to  pro  - 
mote  liberty  of  conscience,  and  peace  and  good 
will  to  all;  we  unite  in  requesting  an  equitable 
division  of  the  estate  belonging  to  the  Monthly 
Meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  meeting 
house  and  other  accommodations  necessary  for 
the  quiet  and  peaceful  enjoyment  of  those  bene- 
fits which  ought  to  be  the  object  of  every  reli- 
gious association." 

This  memorial  was  signed  by  forty -five  mem- 
bers, mostly  heads  of  families,  and  among  the 
most  respectable  persons  of  the  meeting,  and  was 
presented  in  an  appropriate  manner  to  the 
Monthly  Meeting  by  William  Wharton,  in  the 


2H 


5  th  month,  1827.  It  was  not  however  permitted 
to  be  read,  nor  the  subject  matter  brought  into 
consideration,  but  was  referred  to  a  verbal  com- 
mittee for  their  report  at  a  subsequent  Monthly 
Meeting.  An  evident  disposition  appearing  to 
treat  the  application  with  contempt,  it  was  then 
asked  whether  certificates  of  membership  would 
be  granted  to  some  other  Monthly  Meeting 
which  might  be  disposed  to  receive  them?  This 
was  also  denied;  and  notwithstanding  the  memo- 
rial had  been  referred  to  a  committee,  it  was 
made,  before  the  return  of  another  Monthly 
Meeting,  the  ground  for  official  visits  from  the 
overseers  to  the  parties  concerned  in  it ! 

No  hope  of  reconciliation  remaining,  the  very 
endeavour  to  come  to  an  amicable  arrangement 
being  thus  construed  into  a  cause  of  offence*? 
several  families  transferred  their  right  of  mem- 
bership to  Byberry  Monthly  Meeting,  which 
freely  received  them  without  certificates,  and 
taking  into  view  the  peculiarly  trying  situation  of 
Friends  in  the  city,  concluded  to  open  an  indul- 
ged Meeting  for  worship  for  their  accommoda- 
tion on  first  and  fourth  days.  A  meeting  was 
accordingly  opened  under  the  care  of  a  commit- 
tee of  Byberry  Monthly  Meeting,  on  the  third 
of  Sixth  month  in  Carpenters'  Hall;  it  being  the 
same  room  in  which  the  Congress  of  the  United 


212 

States  first  met  to  devise  means  for  delivering 
the  country  from  foreign  aggression. 

On  the  4th  of  Sixth  month,  the  genera!  con- 
ference met,  agreeably  to  adjournment,  at  Green 
street  meeting  house.  The  conference  in  the 
Fourth  month,  was  constituted  of  a  large  number 
of  the  representatives  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  and 
other  concerned  Friends,  who,  by  the  inter- 
ruption of  an  unbending  party  determined  to 
subject  every  proceeding  to  their  arbitrary  rule, 
had  been  deprived  of  holding  a  Yearly  Meeting, 
in  regular  order,  on  the  principles  and  practice 
of  the  society,  and  which  produced  a  necessity 
for  Friends  mutually  to  confer  together  in  order 
to  determine  what  should  be  done  for  the  restora- 
tion of  consistent  order,  in  the  exercise  of  disci- 
pline. After  sufficient  time  for  deliberate  and 
mature  consideration  on  the  trying  state  of  the 
society,  the  same  Friends,  in  company  with  many 
others  from  all  the  different  Quarters  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  again  met  in  mutual  sympathy 
to  feel  after  any  opening  which  might  be  pre- 
sented in  best  wisdom  for  removing  the  obstruc- 
tions which  had  taken  place,  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  accustomed  relations  of  the  society.  After 
a  time  of  solemn  and  deep  feeling,  a  free  inter- 
change of  views  and  sentiments  on  the  general 
state  of  the  society  took  place;  a  large  committee 


213 


was  appointed,  some  out  of  each  Quarter,  to  re- 
port the  particular  state  of  all  the  Quarters,  that 
the  true  condition  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  large 
might  be  fully  understood.  This  committee  was 
also  charged  with  the  consideration  of  the  best 
means  to  be  adopted  for  the  correcting  of  exist- 
ing abuses,  and  for  the  restoration  of  order  and 
harmony.  After  a  report  on  the  state  of  the 
different  Quarters,  the  committee  proposed,  as 
the  result  of  serious  and  mature  deliberation, 
that  as  the  Yearly  Meeting,  at  its  usual  time  of 
sitting,  had  been  so  sorrowfully  interrupted  and 
disorganized,  an  extra  session  should  be  held  in 
the  succeeding  tenth  month,  by  such  Quarterly 
and  Monthly  Meetings  as  might  be  prepared  for 
the  measure;  which  it  was  believed  would  have 
a  tendency  to  re-settle  the  society  in  quiet  and 
regular  order,  agreeably  to  wonted  practice. 
This  report  was  acceptable  to  Friends  assembled, 
and  the  proposal  unanimously  adopted.  A  com- 
mittee of  forty  Friends  was  then  appointed  to 
extend  such  counsel  to  the  members  in  the  seve- 
ral Quarters  as  their  situation  might  require  or 
way  open  for.  This  committee,  by  sub -divisions, 
attended  meetings  of  conference  throughout  the 
Quarterly  and  most  of  the  Monthly  Meetings  as 
they  came  in  course,  where  the  minds  of  Friends 


114 


were  turned  towards  the  re-organization  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting. 

A  door  of  relief  was  already  opened  for 
Friends  in  the  city,  by  several  of  the  country 
Monthly  Meetings  being  disposed  to  receive 
them  as  members  without  certificates,  well 
knowing  the  unconstitutional  and  unreasonable 
domination  the  orthodox  party  exercised  over  all 
who  could  not  submit  to  their  views.  Byberry 
Monthly  Meeting  had  already  received  several 
families,  principally  from  Pine  street  meeting, 
and  instituted  a  meeting  for  worship  for  their 
accommodation.  Darby  Monthly  Meeting  had 
also  received  a  number  of  families  without  certi- 
ficates, principally  from  the  Western  Monthly 
Meeting,  and  granted  them  the  privilege  of 
meeting  with  Friends  under  the  care  of  Byberry 
Monthly  Meeting,  which  was  cause  of  thank- 
fulness to  many  minds  who  felt  that  they 
were  brought  under  great  oppression,  and  in 
danger  of  being  trodden  under  the  feet  of  those 
calling  themselves  orthodox,  and  who  had  en- 
grossed all  disciplinary  power  in  their  own  hands. 
This  indulged  meeting,  in  the  eighth  month,  with 
the  consent  of  Byberry  Monthly  Meeting  and 
Abington  Quarter,  resolved  itself  into  a  Monthly 
Meeting,  as  a  branch  of  Abington  Quarter,  which 
proved  an  additional  means  of  relief  to  many 


215 


Friends  in  the  city,  who  transferred  their  rights 
of  membership  to  it  as  way  opened. 

From  the  conference  held  in  the  6th  month, 
the  following  minute  and  epistle  were  issued  ex- 
pressive of  the  concern  and  judgment  of  Friends 
assembled. 

"At  a  general  meeting  of  Friends,  held  by  ad- 
journments, at  Green  Street  meeting-house,  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  4th.  and  5th.  days 
of  the  6th  month,  1827,  pursuant  to  an  adjourn- 
ment in  the  fourth  month  last,  the  following  epistle 
was  adopted,  and  it  was  directed  that  seven  thou- 
sand copies  of  it  should  be  printed  and  circula- 
ted among  our  members.  The  Friends  who 
signed  the  epistle  were  requested  to  attend  to 
its  early  distribution. 

To  Friends  of  the  Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meet- 
ings within  the  compass  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing held  in  Philadelphia. 

Dear  Friends, 

Having,  through  Divine  favour,  been  per- 
mitted to  meet  together,  pursuant  to  adjournment 
in  the  fourth  month  last,  the  state  of  our  religious 
society  was  again  brought  into  view.  The  wing 
of  Ancient  Goodness  being  sensibly  extended  over 
the  several  sittings  of  this  meeting,  we  have  been 


216 

enabled  weightily  to  consider  the  subjects  that 
came  before  us.  After  solemn  deliberation,  and  a 
free  interchange  of  sentiment,  it  was,  with  much 
unanimity,  agreed  to  recommend  the  following 
views  and  propositions  for  your  serious  conside- 
ration. 

The  principal  objects  of  our  religious  associ- 
ation, are  the  public  Worship  of  God;  the  edifica- 
tion and  comfort  of  each  other;  the  strengthening 
of  the  weak,  and  the  recovery  of  those  who  have 
wandered  from  the  way  of  peace  and  safety. 

It  is  only  under  the  blessed  influence  of  gospel 
love  that  these  objects  can  be  attained.  When- 
ever any  among  us,  so  far  forsake  this  fundamen- 
tal principle  of  our  union,  as  to  act  in  the  spirit 
of  strife  and  discord,  and  to  oppose  and  condemn 
their  brethren,  who  may  conscientiously  differ 
from  them  in  opinion,  they  break  the  bond  of  gos- 
pel fellowship,  and,  as  far  as  their  influence  ex- 
tends, frustrate  the  design  of  religious  society.  If 
such,  after  the  use  of  proper  means,  cannot  be 
reclaimed,  the  peace,  and  harmony,  and  welfare 
of  the  body,  require  that  they  should  be  separa- 
ted from  our  communion. 

The  apostle,  aware  of  the  evils  arising  from 
contention  in  religious  communities,  warned  his 
brethren  against  it,  declaring  that  '  where  envy- 
ing and  strife  is,  there  is  confusion  and  every  evil 


217 


work;"  and  they  were  exhorted -to  withdraw  from 
every  brother  who  walked  disorderly.  And  we 
know  from  experience,  that  wherever  this  evil  spi- 
rit has  appeared  in  any  of  our  meetings,  weakness 
and  jealousy,  and  divisions  have  been  introduced; 
and  that  excellent  order  has  been  subverted  which 
has  not  only  preserved  us  in  love  and  concord,  but 
protected  the  rights  and  privileges  of  all  our 
members. 

With  deep  concern  and  sorrow  we  have  ob- 
served the  introduction  and  increase  of  this  deso- 
lating spirit.  It  is  now  about  five  years  since  it 
made  its  appearance  in  our  hitherto  favoured 
society,  so  as  to  become  a  subject  of  general  con- 
cern. For  some  time  it  was  mostly  confined  to 
individuals  acting  as  officers  in  the  church.  In 
this  stage  of  its  progress  its  consequences  were 
grievous.  Some  who  became  infected  by  it,  dis- 
regarding the  wholesome  order  established  by 
our  Yearly  Meeting,  which  directs,  in  the  first 
place,  private  labour  with  such  as  give  cause  of 
concern,  and  afterwards,  that  Monthly  Meetings 
should  treat  with  them,  formed  combinations, 
amongst  themselves,  unauthorized  by  the  society 
and  unknown  to  its  discipline.  Friends  travel- 
ling in  the  ministry,  with  certificates  from  their 
Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings,  were  inter- 
rupted in  their  labours,  and  in  some  instances 
28 


218 


publicly  opposed  in  our  meetings  for  divine  wor- 
ship. They  and  other  faithful  Friends  in  the 
ministry,  were  unjustly  charged  with  preaching 
infidel  doctrines,  denying  the  Divinity  of  Christ, 
and  undervaluing  the  scriptures;  together  with 
divers  other  things,  generally  known  to  you,  and 
equally  unfounded. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  contagion 
spread,  and  made  its  appearance  in  some  of  our 
meetings  for  discipline,  opening  to  the  exerci- 
sed members  of  the  society,  scenes  of  the  most 
painful  nature.  Measures  of  a  party  character 
were  introduced,  and  the  established  order  of 
society  was  infringed,  by  carrying  those  measures 
into  execution,  against  the  judgment  and  contrary 
to  the  voice  of  the  larger  part  of  Friends  present. 

At  length  the  infection,  taking  a  wider  range, 
appeared  in  our  Yearly  Meeting,  where  its  de- 
plorable effects  were  equally  conspicuous.  Means 
were  recently  taken  therein  to  over- rule  the 
greater  part  of  the  representatives,  and  a  clerk 
was  imposed  upon  the  meeting,  without  their 
concurrence  or  consent.  A  Committee  was  there 
appointed  to  visit  the  Quarterly  and  Monthly 
meetings  without  the  unity  of  the  meeting,  and 
contrary  to  the  solid  sense  and  judgment  of  much 
the  larger  number  of  the  members  in  attendance; 
and  several  important  subjects  were  necessarily 


219 


dismissed,  owing  to  the  disunity  and  discord  pre- 
valent in  that  body. 

Friends  have    viewed   this   state    of    things 
amongst  us  with  deep  concern  and  exercise,  pa- 
tiently waiting  in  the  hope,  that  time  and  reflec- 
tion would  eonvince  our  brethren  of  the  impro- 
priety of  such  a  course,  and  that,  being  favoured 
to  see  the  evil  consequences  of  such  conduct,  they 
might  retrace  their  steps.  But,  hitherto,  we  have 
waited  in  vain.    Time  and  opportunity  for  re- 
flection have  been  amply  afforded,  but  have  not 
produced  these  desirable  results.      On  the  con- 
trary, the  spirit  of  discord   and  confusion  has 
gained  strength;  and  to  us  there  mow  appears  no 
way  to  regain  the  harmony  and  tranquility  of 
the  body,  but  by  withdrawing  ourselves — not 
from  the  society  of  Friends,  nor  from  the  exercise 
of  its  salutary  discipline — -but  from  religious  com- 
munion with  those  who  have  introduced,  and  seem 
disposed  to  continue  such  disorders  amongst  us. 

The  quiet  and  solemnity  of  our  meetings  for 
divine  worship — the  blessings  of  a  gospel  min- 
istry unshackled  by  human  authority — the  pre- 
servation of  our  religious  liberty — the  advance- 
ment of  our  christian  testimonies  — ^and  the  pros- 
perity of  truth,  so  far  as  it  is  connected  with 
our  labours,  we  believe,  very  much  depend  upon, 
the  early  adoption  of  this  measure. 


220 


We  therefore,  under  a  solemn  and  weighty 
sense  of  the  importance  of  this  concern,  and  with 
ardent  desires  that  all  our  movements  may  be 
under  the  guidanoe  of  Him,  who  only  can  lead 
us  in  safety,  have  agreed  to  propose  for  your 
consideration,  the  propriety  and  expediency  of 
holding  a  Yearly  Meeting  for  Friends  in  unity 
with  us,  residing  within  the  limits  of  those  Quar- 
terly Meetings,  heretofore  represented  in  the 
Yearly  Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia;  for  which 
purpose,  it  is  recommended  that  Quarterly  and 
Monthly  Meetings,  which  may  be  prepared  for 
such  a  measure,  should  appoint  representatives 
to  meet  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  third  second  day 
in  the  tenth  month  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  in  company  with  other  members  fa- 
vourable to  our  views,  there  to  hold  a  Yearly 
Meeting  of  men  and  women  Friends,  upon  the 
principles  of  the  early  professors  of  our  name, 
and  for  the  same  purposes  that  brought  them  to- 
gether in  a  religious  capacity— to  exalt  the  stand- 
ard of  truth— promote  righteousness  and  peace 
in  the  earth— edify  the  churches — and  generally 
to  attend  to  all  such  concerns  as  relate  to  the 
welfare  of  religious  society,  and  the  cause  of  our 
holy  JRedeemer,  who  is  God  oveF  all,  blessed 
forever.     Amen. 


221 


Signed  by  direction  and  on  behalf  of  the  meet- 
ing by 


Stephen  Stephens, 
Joseph  Rhoads, 
Jacob  Paxson, 
James  Walton, 
Benjamin  Smith, 
Thomas  Carey, 
Halliday  Jackson, 
Jacob  Alrichs, 
George  Peirce, 
Stephen  Long, 
Richard  Barnard, 


John  Mann, 
John  Cowgill, 
Robert  Moore, 
Asa  Rogers, 
Anthony  Sharp, 
Josiah  Roberts, 
John  Ward, 
Thomas  Borton, 
David  Davis, 
Isaac  Kay, 


Edward  Garrigues. 
Extracted  from  the  minutes  of  the  aforesaid 
meeting: 

WILLIAM  GIBBONS, 
BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 


Clerks, 


222 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

extra  session  of  the  yearly  meeting  of 
friends,  held  in  philadelphia,  in  the 
10th  month,  1827,  according  to  the 
recommendation  of  the  general  con- 
ference held  on  the  4th  and  5th  of 
the  6th  month. 

The  general  conference  in  the  sixth  month, 
and  the  prospect  of  an  extra  session  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  the  tenth  month,  greatly  excited  the 
animosity  and  censures  of  the  orthodox  party. 
They  saw  with  regret  a  door  opening  by  which 
those  of  their  brethren  whom  they  had  marked  for 
a  prey,  would  escape  out  of  their  hands.  The 
Friends  who  had  transferred  their  right  of  mem- 
bership to  Byberry  and  Darby  Monthly  Meetings, 
were  placed  entirely  beyond  the  reach  of  those  in- 
dividuals who  controled  the  meetings  with  which 
they  had  been  connected.  Byberry  and  Darby 
Monthly  Meetings  possessed  equal  rights,  privi- 
leges, and  independence  with  any  other  meetings 
belonging  to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  every 


223 


member  of  those  meetings  was  fully  entitled  to 
these  rights  and  privileges.  Pine  street  and 
the  Western  Monthly  Meetings,  when  they  were 
entire,  had  no  paramount  right  over  any  other 
Monthly  Meeting.  They  could  not  enter  the 
threshold  of  any  other  Monthly  Meeting,  and 
say  we  claim  a  right  to  deal  with,  and  disown 
your  members,  whatever  might  be  the  ostensible 
charge.  Or  upon  the  same  principle  other 
Monthly  Meetings  might  enter  Pine  street  or 
the  Western  Monthly  Meeting  and  say,  some  of 
your  members  in  our  apprehension  have  been 
acting  inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  our  princi- 
ples and  practice,  and  we  disown  them  from  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  the  society.  Would 
such  disownments  be  deemed  valid  by  any  rea- 
sonable person?  How  much  less  were  the  cen- 
sures of  Pine  street  and  the  Western  Meetings 
valid  when  both  of  them  had  been  broken  down 
by  disunion,  and  only  a  fractional  part  remained 
to  exercise  the  functions  of  those  meetings?  The 
disownments  attempted  against  those  Friends  who 
had  transferred  their  rights  to  Byberry  and 
Darby  Monthly  Meetings,  could  not  penetrate 
through  the  shield  of  those  meetings,  which  af- 
forded equal  protection  to  all  the  members. 
They  stood  protected  in  the  bosom  of  society 
notwithstanding  the  menaces  of  their  orthodox 
opposers. 


224 


The  dominant  party  in  Pine  street  and  the 
Western  meetings  had  departed  from  the  dis- 
ciplinary principle   of  the  society,  and  tram- 
pled under  foot  its  essential    attributes,  equa- 
lity, unity  and  concurrence.  Byberry  and  Darby 
Monthly  Meetings,  animated  with  the  kindred 
feelings  of  christian  love,  sympathy,  and  conde- 
scension, extended  a  helping  hand  to  those  of 
their  brethren  thus  brought  into  unmerited  bond- 
age.    Their  affectionate  kindness,  in  rescuing 
their  suffering  brethren  from  the  grasp  of  indi- 
viduals who  had  so  long  afforded  painful  evidence 
of  their  departure  from  the  unity  of  the  society, 
involved  no  direliction  from  correct  principles. 
These  Monthly  Meetings  were  moreover  sustain- 
ed, in  the  exercise  of  their  kindness  to  many  tried 
members,  by  the  approbation  of  their  Quarterly 
Meetings.     Abington  Quarterly  Meeting,  upon 
the  same  principle  of  love  and  sympathy,  receiv- 
ed into  its  connexion  both  Green  street  and  Ran- 
nor  Monthly  Meetings,   and  hence  these  two 
meetings,  as  also  the  newly  established  Philadel- 
phia Monthly  Meeting,  under  the  protection, 
and  as  constituent  branches  of  Abington  Quarterly 
Meeting,  retained  their  position,  and  all  their 
rights  and  privileges  as  component  parts  of  the 
re-organized  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in 
Philadelphia,  which  met  according  to  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  general  conference. 


225 


On  the  15th  of  10th  mo.  1827,  about  10  o'clock, 
men  Friends  assembled  in  the  capacity  of  a  Yearly 
Meeting,  in  a  large  temporary  building  erected 
for  the  purpose,  and  women  Friends  in  Green 
street  meeting-house.  It  was  estimated  that  nearly 
fifteen  hundred  men  Friends  were  in  attendance, 
and  a  sensible  solemnity  and  tender  feeling  being 
experienced,  the  meeting  appeared  to  be  owned 
by  the  Head  of  the  church.  The  mutual  sympa- 
thies of  Friends  extended  to  one  another,  and  they 
mingled  in  tender  fellowship,  in  which  gratitude 
was  breathed  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift,  that  the  sincere  and  tender  in  heart  were 
permitted  again  to  mingle  in  a  church  capacity 
for  transacting  the  business  of  a  Yearly  Meeting. 

Representatives  were  called  from  Abington, 
Bucks,  Concord,  the  Western,  and  Southern 
Quarterly  Meetings,  and  also  from  Mount  Holly, 
Chesterfield,  and  Radnor  Monthly  Meetings. 

The  following  abstract  of  the  minutes  adopted  on 
this  solemn  occasion  will  exhibit  the  nature  of  the 
concerns  which  engaged  the  attention  of  Friends. 

After  calling  the  representatives,  the  attention 
of  the  meeting  was  turned  to  its  component  parts, 
as  well  as  to  the  trying  situation  of  many  Friends 
in  Quarterly  Meetings  not  represented. 

"  The  committee  appointed  at  a  general  meet- 
ing of  Friends,  held  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  6th 
29 


226 


month  last,  to  attend  to  the  state  of  society,  and 
to  afford  assistance  to  Friends  under  suffering, 
within  the  compass  of  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, submitted  a  report  in  writing,  as  follows: 

6  To  the  Yearly  Meeting, 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  general  meet- 
ing of  Friends,  held  at  Green  street,  on  the  5  th 
of  6th  month  last,  report, 

That  agreeably  to  the  direction  of  said  meet- 
ing, we  have  given  such  aid  and  counsel  to 
Friends,  as  their  situation  appeared  to  us  to  re- 
quire, and  as  way  from  time  to  time  opened.  In 
attention  to  the  subject,  the  committee  have  met 
five  times  in  this  city,  and  at  different  times 
have  appointed  a  part  of  their  number,  to  at- 
tend such  meetings  of  conference  as  were  to  be 
held  in  various  parts  of  the  Yearly  Meeting;  by 
whose  report  it  has  appeared,  that  these  were 
generally  satisfactory  and  useful  opportunities. 

From  information  received,  the  views  and  pro- 
positions contained  in  the  epistle  of  the  sixth 
month  last,  appear  to  be  more  extensively  united 
with  than  was  anticipated,  and  we  believe  the  im- 
portant concern,  which  has  for  its  object  the  peace 
and  harmony  of  Society,  is  yet  progressing. 

Signed  on  behalf  of  the  committee, 

John  Mann,  John  Comly, 

Robert  Moore,      John  Ward, 

Philadelphia,  10th  mo.  15th  1827.' 


227 


Second-day  afternoon. 

A  weighty  concern  for  the  welfare  of  our  fel- 
low members  in  the  different  parts  of  this  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  a  tender  sympathy  with  them  in 
their  various  trials  and  afflictions,  spreading  and 
prevailing  over  the  meeting,  it  was  concluded  to 
appoint  a  committee  to  take  into  view  the  gener- 
al state  of  society,  and  to  report  to  a  future  sitting 
of  this  meeting,  as  way  may  open,  what  in 
their  judgment  may  tend  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  the  body.     A  committee  was  then  appointed. 

16th.  of  the  month,  and  3d  of  the  week. 

The  committee  appointed  yesterday,  to  take 
into  view  the  state  of  society,  and  to  lay  before 
the  meeting  what  they  may  deem  necessary  for  the 
welfare  of  the  body,  offered  the  following  pro- 
posal: viz. 

*  The  numerous  difficulties  under  which  our 
members  are  suffering,  in  different  places  and  in 
different  departments  of  society,  coming  into  view 
and  obtaining  our  deliberate  attention,  it  was 
thought  proper  to  propose  to  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
whether  it  would  not  be  right  to  appoint  a  large 
committee  of  men  and  women  Friends,  to  repre- 
sent this  meeting  in  its  recess,  and  attend  to  the 
very  important  concerns  which  at  present  claim? 
or  may  hereafter  claim^  the  care  and  assistance 
of  the  body.' 


228 


The  concern  expressed  in  the  said  proposal 
being  united  with  by  the  meeting,  a  committee 
was  appointed,  to  produce  to  a  future  sitting  the 
names  of  suitable  Friends  for  that  service. 

Third-day  afternoon. 

A  tender  concern  for  the  situation  of  our  ab- 
sent brethren  and  sisters  within  the  compass  of 
this  Yearly  Meeting,  and  a  fellow-feeling  with 
them  under  their  manifold  trials,  being  expressed 
and  pervading  the  meeting,  a  committee  was 
named,  to  prepare,  if  way  should  open,  an  essay 
of  an  epistle  addressed  to  the  Quarterly,  Monthly, 
and  Particular  meetings,  and  produce  it  to  a  fu- 
ture sitting  of  this  meeting." 

The  meeting's  attention  being  drawn  to  the 
situation  of  the  meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders, 
it  was  with  much  unanimity  recommended  that 
Friends  in  those  stations  should  meet  in  a  Yearly 
Meeting  capacity  on  the  next  morning,  and  sit, 
as  heretofore,  on  its  own  adjournments. 

"  17th  of  the  month,  and  4th  of  the  week. 

The  Friends  appointed  to  nominate  a  commit- 
tee, to  represent  this  meeting  in  its  recess  and  at- 
tend to  the  various  important  concerns  connected 
with  the  welfare  of  society,  at  present  claiming 
or  that  may  hereafter  claim  the  care  of  Friends, 
produced  a  report,  which  being  considered  is 
united  with,  and  the  committee  therein  nomina- 


229 


ted  are  requested  to  give  diligent  attention  to  the 
weighty  subjects  now  committed  to  their  care, 
and  report  to  our  next  Yearly  Meeting. 

Fifth-day  afternoon. 

The  committee  appointed  on  Third  day  last 
to  draught  an  epistle  to  our  absent  brethren  and 
sisters,  within  the  compass  of  this  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, produced  an  essay,  which,  being  deliberate- 
ly read,  was  adopted.  The  general  committee 
appointed  yesterday  are  desired  to  have  10,000 
copies  of  it  printed  and  distributed  to  our  Quar- 
terly and  Monthly  Meetings,  in  such  proportions 
as  they  may  deem  proper. 

19th  of  the  month,  and  6th  of  the  week. 

The  Friends  appointed  to  draught  an  epistle 
to  our  brethren  and  sisters  of  Baltimore  Yearly 
Meeting,  produced  an  essay,  which,  having  been 
deliberately  considered  by  the  meeting,  is  united 
with. 

The  Friends  to  whom  was  referred  the  con- 
sideration of  a  suitable  time  to  hold  the  next  ses- 
sion of  this  Yearly  Meeting,  proposed  the  second 
Second-day  in  the  Fourth  month  next,  the  Meet- 
ing for  Ministers  and  Elders  on  the  Seventh-day 
preceding,  both  to  begin  at  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning:  which  being  united  with  by  the  meeting 
was  adopted. 

Having  been  favoured,  through  the  unmerited 


230 

mercy  of  the  Head  of  the  church,  to  witness  in 
the  several  sittings  of  this  meeting,  the  baptizing 
influence  of  his  own  blessed  spirit  cementing  us 
together  in  the  bond  of  Gospel  love,  and  enabling 
us  to  conduct  the  weighty  affairs  of  the  church 
in  much  brotherly  affection  and  harmony,  and 
feeling  grateful  for  the  favour,  the  meeting  con- 
cludes, to  meet  again  on  the  second  Second-day 
of  the  Fourth  month  next,  if  the  Lord  permit. 

Taken  from  the  minutes  of  the  aforesaid  Yearly 
Meeting  and  signed  on  behalf  thereof. 

Benjamin  Ferris,  Clerk." 

The  following  is  the  Epistle  alluded  to  in  the 
preceding  extract. 

An  Epistle  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
Held  in  Philadelphia  by  adjournments,  from 
the  15th  of  the  tenth  month  to  the  19th  of 
the  same,  inclusive,  1827,  to  the  Quarterly, 
Monthly,  and  Particular  meetings  of  Friends 
within  the  compass  of  the  said  Yearly  Meet- 


Dear  Friends, 

Having  convened  in  this  Yearly  Meeting,  under 
very  peculiar  and  trying  circumstances,  in  order 
to  transact  the  business  of  the  church,  our  minds 
kave  been  comforted  and  strengthened,  in  the  evi- 
dence afforded  that  we  are  still  mercifully  regard- 


231 


ed  by  our  Holy  Head,  whose  heavenly  wing  has 
graciously  overshadowed  this  meeting  to  the  hum- 
bling of  our  spirits;  and  tender  sympathy  has  flowed 
towards  our  absent  brethren  and  sisters,  whom  we 
affectionately  salute  in  the  love  of  the  everlast- 
ing gospel. 
We  fervently  desire  that  all  may  be  increasingly 
concerned  to  retire  from  the  noises,  the  contenti- 
ons, and  the  confusions  that  are  in  the  world — that 
we  may  individually  submit  to  the  government 
of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  who  gathered  our  forefath- 
ers to  be  a  people  and  committed  to  them  impor- 
tant testimonies. 

These  testimonies  have  been  felt  to  be  near  and 
dear  to  us,  and  a  living  travail  has  been  known 
that  our  Zion  may  arise  and  shine  in  her  ancient 
brightness,  as  in  the  morning  of  the  day,  when 
her  sons  and  her  daughters  were  despised  and 
persecuted,  yet  inherited  the  blessing  pronounced 
by  our  Divine  Master:  "  Blessed  are  ye  when 
men  shall  revile  you,  and  persecute  you,  and 
shall  say  all*  manner  of  evil  against  you.  falsely, 
for  my  sake." 

Beloved  friends,  we  feel  the  awful  responsibility 
of  our  present  standing,  and  the  necessity  of  abid- 
ing, individually,  in  the  meekness  and  simplicity 
of  the  truth  as  it  is  Jesus-avoiding  all  doubtful 
disputations  which  engender  strife,  and  earnestly 


232 

endeavouring  to  show  forth  by  a  Godly  life  and 
conversation,  that  we  are  his  humble  followers, 
who"  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again," 
and  whose  religion  enjoins  that  we  resist  not  evil, 
but  overcome  evil  with  good. 

We  believe  there  never  was  a  period  in  our  so- 
ciety, when  it  was  more  important  for  those  who 
feel  bound  to  the  law  and  the  testimony  to  stand 
faithful  at  their  posts;  having  on  "  the  whole  arm- 
our of  God,"  which  only  can  protect  from  the  dan- 
gers that  surround  us.  But  if  we  keep  a  single  eye 
to  the  Captain  of  our  salvation,  humbly  waiting 
for  him  to  put  forth  and  go  before  us,  we  have 
nothing  to  fear — hard  things  will  be  made  easy, 
and  bitter  things  sweet;  for  i{  greater  is  he  that 
is  in  you,  than  he  that  is  in  the  world." 

In  the  present  agitated  state  of  society,  its  liv- 
ing members  must  be  led  into  exercise  and  suffer- 
ing: and  we  earnestly  desire  that  all  may  be  pre- 
served in  the  spirit  of  patience,  gentleness,  and 
forbearance,  under  every  provocation  and  trial. 
And  in  the  exercise  of  the  salutary  discipline  of 
the  church,  Oh!  that  we  may  seek  for  a  right  quali- 
fication to  treat  with  offenders  in  the  spirit  of  re- 
storing love, — most  carefully  guarding  against  the 
influence  of  party  feeling,  which  may,  almost  im- 
perceptibly, entwine  itself  in  movements  profess- 
edly^designed  to  support  the  discipline  of  society. 


inber  that  its  original  and  primary  ob- 
;eek  and.  to  save— not  to  destroy.  If 
we  in  a  spirit  of  violence  seize  the  discipline  as  a 
sword,  to  be  wielded  in  the  will  and  wisdom  of 
man,. we  thereby  depart  from  our  ancient  and 
Christian  principle,  and  wour  anse  of  truth 

and  righteousne. 

Our  profession  is.  high  and  holy;  and  let  us  be, 
increasingly  concerned  to  walk  consistently  there- 
with.  The  patient  sufferings  of  our  faithful  prede- 
cessors finally  established,  for  them  an  excellent 
name,  even  amongst  their  persecutors.  They  held 
u^. with  practical  clearness  a  peaceable  testimony 
against. ee  wars  and  fightings/3  and  by  a. scrupu- 
lous adherence  to  ^he<  principles  of  justice?  be- 
came proverbial  for  their  integrity. 

In  the  present  afflicting  state  of  things,  we  feel 
deeply  concerned  that  their  example  in  these  re- 
spects may  be  kept  steadily  in  view— that  our  re- 
ligious testimonies  may  never  be  wounded  by  con- 
tending for  property  and  asserting  our  rights;— 
no  course  be  pursued,  although  s~  1  by 

the  laws  of  the  excellent  civil  government  ui 
which  We  live,;  that  may  \  i :  v/ith  the 

spirit  of  that  holy  Lawgiver,  who  taught  his  dii  s 
pies,  (t  If  any  .man  will  sue  thee  at  the  law  and 
take  away  thy  coat,  let  him  have  thy  cloak  also;;5 
who  set  forth  his  owji  situation  as  it  related  to 
30 


334 


this  world  when  lie  said,  u  The  foxes  have  holes, 
and.  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests,  hut  the  son  of 
'mantiath.  not  where  to  lay  his  head." 

And  we  tenderly  exhort,  that  in  places  where 
our  members  constitute  the  larger  part  of  any 
meeting,  their  conduct  may  be  regulated  by  the 
rule  laid  down  by  our  blessed  Lord:  "  Whatso- 
ever ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye 
even  so  to  them." 

The  dicipline  under  which  we  act,  positively 
discourages  members  of  our  society  from  suing 
each  other  at  law.  To  violate  this  discipline  in  a 
meeting  capacity,  is  not  only  a  departure  from  our 
established  order,  but  is  calculated  to  injure  us  in 
the  eyes  of  sober  inquirers  after  truth,  and  to  dis- 
turb the  peace  of  our  own  minds. 

Dearly  beloved  young  friends!  how  shall  we  ad- 
dress you  in  language  sufficiently  expressive  of  the 
tender  solicitude  which  we  feel  for  your  welfare! 
We  are  fully  aware  that  many  of  you  have  witness- 
ed scenes  of  contention,  painfully  affecting  to  the 
inexperienced  mind,  and  calculated  to  produce  the 
inquiry,  ^  Who  shall  show  us  any  good?"  But 
remember,  dear  children,  that  truth  is  truth 
though  all  men  forsake  it.  u  The  foundation  of 
God  standeth  sure,  having  this  seal,  the  Lord 
knoweth  them  that  are  hjs."  Although  there 
may  have  been  seasons  when,  as  amidst  the  raging 


235 


of  the  billows,  you  have  been  read  fi»  cry  out,Jf.ord  • 
save  us  or  we  perish,  yet  may  you  remember  that 
the  Almighty  power  which  rebuked  the  winds 
and  the  waves,  is  the  same  that  ever  it  was,  and 
is  still  graciously  disposed  to  say  to  the  humble 
tossed  mind,  "Peace,  be  still." 

Retire  then,  we  entreat  you,  from  all  airy  spe- 
culations on  religious  subjects — from  all  light  and 
chaffy  conversation.  Enter  into  your  closets — 
shut  the  door — commune  with  your  own  hearts 
and  be  still.  Thus  you  will  learn  in  the  school 
of  Christ.  Your  religious  experience  will  be 
gradually  enlarged,  and  as  you  continue  humble 
and  obedient  you  will  be  raised  up  a  righteous 
generation,  and  will  stand  as  faithful  advocates 
for  the  law  and  the  testimony  of  our  God.  There 
will  arise  from  amongst  you  judges  as  at  the  first, 
and  counsellors  as  at  the  beginning:  instead  of 
the  fathers  there  will  be  the  sons,  and  instead  of 
the  mothers  there  will  be  the  daughters. 

The  language  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings, 
in  the  introduction  to  the  Book  of  Advices  pub- 
lished under  the  direction  of  our  Yearly  Meeting 
in  1808,  appears  peculiarly  adapted  to  our  pre- 
sent situation,  and  is  as  follows: 

u  The  following  extracts  have  been  compiled 
for  the  benefit  of  the  members  of  our  Yearly 
Meeting,  that  observing  the  travail  of  the  church 


:.:  :. 


under  various  concerns,  which  in' divine  wisdom 
have  been  communicated,  for  its  weighty  .atten- 
tion^ they  may  be  drawn  to  the  principle  of  life 

and  light  manifested  in  "the  mind,  which  points 
out  the  path  of  duty  and' can  alone  preserve 
therein* 

1  ur  ancient  Friends  and  their  faithful  sueees-' 
sors  to  the  present;  day, .  have  earnestly  laboured 
to  turn  the-  attention  of  all  ,to  this  pure  spirit; 
knowing  from  experience,  ■  that  it  is  the  met 
appointed  by  God  for  effecting  our  salvation,  and 
the  only  foundation  of  all  true  religion  and  wor- 
ship. As  by  this  we  have  been  led  into  divers 
testimonies  which  have  distinguished  us  from 
most  other  professors  of  the  Christian  naxnty  we 
fervently  desire  that  all  our  members  may  walk 
L  the  same  rule  and  mind  the  same  thing;  thus 
every  one,  filling  his  place  in. the  body,  we  shall 
grow  up  into  Him  in  all  fchii  who  is  the  Head, 
even  Christ.9* 

We  recommend  these  advices  'to  the  weighty 
attention  of  all  our  members. 

Finally,  beloved  friends,  may  we  all  remember 

that  the  gospel. of  Christ  stands  not  in  speculative 

opinions,  nor  in  the  will  and  wisdom  of  man,  but 

hgjgower  of  the  one  true  and  living  God. 

Our  blessed  .Lord  gave  ample'  proof  of  its  .sim- 

_:y,  in  selecting  illiter?.  ?,rmen  to  be 


. 


amongst  its  promulgators;  And  as  we  are  enga- 
ged humbly  to  abide  in  this  power5  no  divination 
nor  enchantment  can  prevail  against  us, 

Si  Now  unto  Him  that  is. able  to  keep  you  from.. 
falling.,  and  to  present  you  faultless  .before  the 
presence  of  his  glory  with,  exceeding  joy?  to  the 
only  wise  God  our  Saviour,  be  glory  and  maj  es 
dominion  and *power?  hot'": 

Signed  by  direction  and  on  bejial  \ 
ing,  by 

Clerk  of  the  r#en?s  meet 

..  Rebecca  B;  CoMly, 
Clerk  of  the  women?  s  mmiin  & 


238 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  Phi- 
ladelphia in  the  4th  month,  1828. 

Every  step  that  opened  for  the  relief  of  the 
oppressed,  and  the  re-organization  of  the  society, 
tending  to  diminish  the  influence  of  those  called 
orthodox,  the  leaders  of  that  party  seemed  to 
become  violent  in  proportion  to  the  apparent 
shortness  of  their  power.  The  rights  of  several 
individuals,  so  far  as  they  could  affect  them,  had 
already  been  sacrificed  to  party  resentment,  and 
all  who  had  attended  any  conference,  or  the 
Yearly  Meeting  in  the  tenth  month,  were 
deemed  objects  df  immediate  censure.  The 
calm  and  deliberate  progress  of  Friends  to  resume 
their  just  rights  in  the  transaction  of  the  affairs 
of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  was  denominated  u  divi- 
ding society"  and  iC  setting  up  a  new  society." 
These  charges  were  in  accordance  with  the 
whole  assumed  proceedings  of  the  orthodox  bre- 
thren. The  true  cause  of  division  had  long  been 
in  operation,  by  the  orthodox  members  assuming 


239 


in  their  own  persons  the  rights  of  many  of  their 
brethren  of  equal  standing  and  fully  entitled  to 
every  privilege  in  the  society  with  themselves. 
From  a  careful  inquiry  it  does  not  appear  that 
more  than  about  one  in  six  members  have  adhered 
to  the  orthodox  party,,  and  a  large  number  of  those 
who  still  adhere  to  them,  do  not  approve  of 
their  past  proceedings.  Was  it  reasonable  that 
one  orthodox  member  should  despoil  five  of  his 
fellow  members,  and  engross  their  rights  in  his 
own?  When  these  five  members  recurred  to 
fundamental  principles  and  resumed  their  disci- 
plinary functions,  and  reduced  the  one  who  had 
lorded  over  them  to  his  just  level,  Was  this  divi- 
ding any  thing  from  him  that  he  ought  of  right 
to  retain?  This  cannot  be  said  either  with  reason 
or  justice. 

We  have  seen  the  representatives  and  other 
concerned  Friends,  in  consequence  of  being  in- 
terrupted in  the  fulfilment  of  their  duties  by  the 
overbearing  determination  of  the  orthodox  party, 
compelled  to  resolve  themselves  into  a  deliberative 
body  of  conferees  to  consider  what  was  to  be  done 
to  relieve  society  from  the  incumbrance  of  party 
strife  and  measures. 

5  These,  in  exhibiting  the  true  state  of  the  case, 
appealed  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  large  through 
the  medium  of  a  solemn  epistle,  inviting  the  at- 


340 


Jon  of  all  to„a  general  conference  to  be  held 

ib  the  sixth  month,  that  the  mind  and  sense  of  the 

whole  body  might  he  known  and  acted  upon,  in 

conformity    with    the    established    practice   of 

Lends.     Was  there  any  thing  dividing  in  this, 

a  all  were  freely  and  openly  invited?  .  Could 
thing  of  a  party  nature  in  it  when 
all  had  a  voice  in  deliberating?  and  nothing  was 
determined  but  by  entire  unity?  The  voice  of 
the  members  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  through  a 
general  conference,  called  for  an  extra  session, 
in  the  tenth  month  a  upon  the  principles  of  the 
earl,;  ors  of  our  name,  and  for  the    same 

purposes  that  brought  them  together  in  a  religi- 
ous Capacity-— to  exalt  the  standard  of  truth- 
promote  rightousness  and  peace  in  the  ■■earth— 
edify  the  churches— and  generally,  to  attend  to 

j.ch  concerns  as  relate  to  the  welfare  of  reli- 
gious society,  and  the  cause  of  our  holy  Redeem- 
er, who  is  God  over  all  blessed  forever."-. 

There  was  no  new  ground  taken;  no  new  pre- 
tensions claimed,  nor  any  rash  declarations  made. 
What  cause  is  there  from  all  this,  to  make  the 
charge  of  u  dividing  society,"  or  u  setting  up  a 
new  society?"  Nothing  to  warrant  the  charge 
any  where  appears.  The  orthodox  party  had 
divided  themselves  from  the  body,  and  Friends 
rring  to   fundamental  principle  realized 


241 


primitive  practice;  they  moved  harmoniously, 
without  a  dissenting  voice,  to  re-organize  the  Year- 
ly Meeting  upon  the  principles  of  the  society, 
freed  from  the  incumbrance  of  such  as  had  relin- 
quished in  their  practice  those  principles. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  the  tenth  month 
had  been  greatly  to  the  comfort  and  encourage- 
ment  of  Friends,  embracing  nearly  as  many  mem- 
bers as  usually  attend  Yearly  Meetings.  In  the 
Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meetings^  represented, 
the  measure  was  strongly  contested  by  the  com- 
mittees of  the  orthodox  party,  and  it  was  entirely 
at  the  will  of  those  meetings  to  receive  or  reject 
the  authority  of  orthodox  claims.  Friends  of 
Abington,  Bucks,  Western,  and  Southern  Quar- 
ters, were  generally,  with  little  exception,  pre- 
pared to  adopt  the  recommendation  of  the  con- 
ference. Concord  Quarter  was  also  prepared, 
but  had  to  contend  with  more  opposition;  and  al- 
though Philadelphia  was  not  formally  represented 
yet  a  large  number,  perhaps  more  than  half  of  the 
members  who  usually  had  attended  were  embra- 
ced in  the  tenth  month  Yearly  Meeting.  Cain, 
Burlington,  Haddonfield,  Salem,  and  Shrewsbury 
and  Rahway  Quarters  severally  acknowledged  the 
re-organized  Yearly  Meeting,  by  the  reception 
of  the  general  epistle,  and  by  appointing  repre- 
sentatives to  its  adjourned  session  to  be  held  on 


242 


the  second  Second- day  of  the  4th  month,  1828, 
notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  of  the  orthodox 
party  to  retain  them  under  their  influence.  In 
all  of  these  meetings  the  orthodox  members  are 
understood  to  have  withdrawn  from  Friends  and 
maintain  meetings  of  their  own,  which  certainly 
places  them  in  the  situation  of  separatists — a 
name  which  they  so  freely  bestow  on  Friends. 
The  full  knowledge  of  the  mind  and  will  of  the 
body  of  society  ought  certainly  to  convince  the 
most  determined  of  the  orthodox  party,  that  their 
pretensions  to  power  over  the  society  never  can 
be  sustained.  The  principal  body  is  already 
freed  from  their  control,  and  it  is  unavailing  to 
indulge  in  invective  and  ineffective  censure. 

Friends,  through  many  deep  exercises  for  the 
restoration  of  that  order  which  binds  together  in 
feelings  of  christian  love,  have  sympathised  with 
many  of  their  opposing  brethren,  and  haV^  wish- 
ed to  make  their  way  as  easy  as  possible,  and  to 
prevent  whatever  might  operate  as  a  future  dis- 
couragement of  their  cordial  return  to  the  bosom 
of  society.  There  is  no  disciplinary  step  taken 
in  regard  to  those  who  have  withdrawn  from  it. 
All  who  are  members  of  the  society  may  claim 
their  rights  to  be  recognized  by  Friends.*  How 

*  It  may  perhaps  be  considered  an  exception  to  this,  that  in 
©pe  or  two  initances  Monthly  Meetings  have  made  a  record  in 


243 


can  it  then  be  said  that  they  have  set  up  a  new 
society,  when  they  are  willing  to  retain  as  mem- 
bers all  who  are  within  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  • 
Meeting  and  who  are  disposed  to  act  in  accor- 
dance with  the  legitimate  principles  of  the  society 
of  Friends?  Were  not  the  different  Quarterly 
Meetings  in  the  full  exercise  of  their  indepen- 
dence and  judiciary  functions  when  they  appoint- 
ed representatives  to  the  re-organized  Yearly 
Meeting?  Did  they  not  retain  their  usual  position 
as  a  medium  between  the  Monthly  Meetings  and 
the  Yearly  Meeting?  What  infraction  then  does 
the  discipline  assert,  was  made  on  the  regular  and 
legal  operation  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  by  a  con- 
centration of  all  th  e  Monthly  Meetings  incorpo- 
rated in  the  regular  Quarterly  Meetings  which 
convened  agreeably  to  the  previously  declared 
will  of  the  body,  on  the  second  Second-day  of 
4th  month,  1828.  The  different  Quarters  met  at 
their  usual  time  and  place  and  received  from  the 
Monthly  Meetings  answers  to  the  queries,  and, 
as  the  regular  medium,  transmitted  them  to  the 

relation  to  those  who  hare  separated  from  them,  expressing  that 
they  considered  such  separation  by  this  party  equivalent  to  a 
relinquishment  of  membership  in  those  meetings.  But  no  de- 
cision of  this  kind  has  been  come  to  by  the  sooiety  in  its  col- 
lective capacity:  and  we  are  well  assured'  that  no  difficulty 
would  be  made,  in  the  instances  mestioned,  to  the  return  of 
those  orthodox  individuals,  nor  would  any  humiliating;  acknow- 
ledgments be  required  of  them. 


244 


Yearly  Meeting;  exhibiting  a  regular  re-organi- 
zation on  the  fundamental  principle  of  equal 
rights,  guaranteed  by  the  exercise  of  love  and 
consistent  concurrence. 

How  different  is  the  real  state  of  the  case  in  re- 
gard to  the  orthodox  Quarterly  Meetings.  They 
have  not  a  Quarter  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  but 
which  has  been  formed  of  a  small  fractional  part  of 
the  original  members,  who  in  every  instance,  ex- 
cept that  of  Philadelphia,  withdrew  from  Friends 
regularly  met  at  the  usual  time  and  place. 

It  is  true,  in  some  instances  the  clerks  with- 
drew with  the  books,  but  this  infraction  of  good 
order  on  their  part,  could  not  invalidate  the  re- 
gular Quarterly  Meeting,  nor  legalize  a  third  or 
fourth  part  of  the  members  into  a  regular  new 
Quarter,  much  less  supersede  the  sober  and  con- 
sistent exercise  of  the  functions  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  composed  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
members.  The  plain  truth  is,  the  orthodox  party 
in  Philadelphia,  by  a  long  course  of  exclusive 
party  action,  had  separated  themselves  from  the 
general  body  of  Friends,  and  by  their  influence 
a  small  fractional  part  of  the  country  Quarters, 
(except  the  Southern,)  adhering  to  them,  were 
encouraged  to  separate  from  Friends  and  resolve 
themselves  into  the  appearance  of  Quarterly 
Meetings  to  keep  up  a  shadow  of  power  and 


245 


maintain,  an  appearance  of  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
when  the  body  of  the  members  in  the  accustomed 
relations  of  society  were  moving  in  their  usual 
course.  These  are  facts  which  must  stand  un- 
alterable, when  prevarication  and  falsehood  shall 
have  entirely  passed  away.  How  unwise  and 
frivolous  to  seek  to  prolong  a  selfish  import- 
ance by  misrepresentation  which  must  ultimately 
vanish  into  thin  air. 

The  society  of  Friends  having  passed  through 
the  present  ordeal  of  purification,  the  principles 
and  testimonies  they  have  been  called  to  bear, 
will,  under  the  guidance  of  Truth,  progress 
through  future  generations  with  increasing 
brightness,  when  all  the  doings  of  orthodoxy 
shall  have  settled  in  oblivion. 

Extracts  from  the  minutes  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Friends  held  in  Philadelphia  by  ad- 
journments, from  the  14th  of  the  Fourth 
month,  to  the  ISth  of  the  same,  inclusive, 
1828. 

"  The  representatives  from  all  the  Quarters  in 
the  Yearly  Meeting,  except  Philadelphia,  being 
called  were  nearly  all  present,  for  the  absence  of 
most  of  those  who  did  not  answer  to  their  names, 
satisfactory  reasons  were  assigned. 

An  epistle  addressed  to  this  meeting  by  the 


246 


Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  Baltimore, 
was  received  and  read;  its  lively  pertinent  con- 
tents were  truly  consolatory  and  acceptable  to  this 
meeting. 

Second-day  afternoon. 

The  minutes  of  the  general  committee  appoint- 
ed in  the  tenth  month  last,  to  represent  this 
Yearly  Meeting  in  its  recess,  were  now  read. 
The  account  of  their  labours  was  satisfactory  to 
the  meeting. 

15th  of  the  month,  and  3rd  of  the  week. 

By  the  report  from  Abington  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, it  appears,  that,  with  its  approbation,  a  meet- 
ing for  worship,  with  a  Preparative  and  Month- 
ly Meeting  had  been  settled  in  Philadelphia. 
The  latter  is  designated  'The  Monthly  Meet- 
ing of  Friends  of  Philadelphia,5  and  is  held  on 
the  fourth  day  of  the  week  preceding  the  last 
sixth  day  but  one  in  each  month.  The  meetings 
for  worship  on  first  and  fourth  days  in  each  week. 
Those  held  on  first  day  mornings,  and  on  fourth 
days,  begin  at  10  o'clock.  An  afternoon  meet- 
ing is  held  on  first  days,  beginning  in  the  winter 
season  at  3  o'clock,  and  in  summer  at  4  o'clock. 

Having  entered  into  the  consideration  of  the 
state  of  our  religious  society,  so  far  as  the  same 
has  been  brought  into  view  by  the  answers  to  the 
queries,  the  meeting  was  engaged  in  a  living 


247 


concern  and  travail  for  the  removal  of  existing 
weaknesses  amongst  us,  and  for  the  promotion  of 
the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness. 

Fourth- day  afternoon. 

The  following  proposition  was  contained  in 
the  report  from  Abington  Quarterly  Meeting: 
to  wit,  that  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  be  compo- 
sed of  Radnor,  Green  street,  and  Philadelphia 
Monthly  Meetings,  be  established  and  held  in 
Philadelphia,  on  the  third  day  of  the  week,  fol- 
lowing the  first  second-day,  in  the  second,  fifth, 
eighth,  and  eleventh  months.  A  meeting  of  the 
Ministers  and  Elders  belonging  to  the  said  meet- 
ing, to  be  held  on  the  day  preceding — to  be 
denominated,  i  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting 
of  Friends,7 — to  be  opened  in  the  eighth  month 
next,  the  meetings  to  begin  at  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning;  which  on  solid  deliberation  was  united 
with  by  this  meeting:  and  being  informed  that 
the  women's  meeting  have  also  united  with  the 
proposition,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  attend 
the  opening  of  the  said  meeting,  and  report  to  our 
next  Yearly  Meeting. 

17th  of  the  month,  and  5th  of  the  week. 

It  being  deemed  necessary  that  a  committee 
should  be  appointed  to  represent  this  meeting  in 
its  recess,  and  to  have  a  general  care  of  such 
concerns  as  are  connected  with  the  welfare  of 


248 

society,  during  the  ensuing  year,  a  committee 
was  appointed  for  that  purpose,  to  report  to  our 
next  Yearly  Meeting. 

18th  of  the  month  and  6th  of  the  week. 

Having  been  favoured,  through  the  several 
sittings  of  this  meeting,  with  renewed  evidences 
of  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  our  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther, uniting  us  together  in  the  cementing  love 
of  the  gospel,  in  which  the  business  that  came 
before  us  has  been  transacted  with  much  harmony 
and  condescension:  under  a  lively  sense  of  grati- 
tude for  the  blessing,  the  meeting  concludes,  to 
meet  again,  with  divine  permission,  on  the  se- 
cond second-day  in  the  fourth  month  next,  the 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  on  the  seventh 
day  preceding,  both  to  begin  at  10  o'clock  in 
the  morning. 

Extracted  from  the  minutes  of  the  aforesaid 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  signed  on  behalf  thereof. 
Benjamin  Ferris,  Clerk." 

From  a  review  of  the  deliberate  proceedings 
of  the  re-organized  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends 
held  in  Philadelphia,  and  from  a  consideration  of 
the  subject  matter  set  forth  in  the  epistles  which 
have  been  inserted,  the  impartial  reader  must 
perceive  that  the  charges  of  unsoundness  and  de- 
viation from  discipline,  so  strongly  insisted  upon 


249 


by  the  orthodox  leaders  against  Friends,  are  the 
effect  of  party  zeal  acting  on  individuals,  and 
disposing  them  to  traduce  those  whom  they  can 
no  longer  control.  Friends  were  painfully  con- 
strained to  move  in  the  way  that  opened,  to  free 
the  society  from  the  contention  and  distraction 
of  a  party  spirit  settled  in  its  own  determinations. 
The  deliberate  and  cautious,  the  temperate  and 
firm  conduct  of  Friends  in  resuming  their  just 
rights,  was  accompanied  with  great  solemnity 
and  tenderness  of  feeling,  and  no  harsh  reflec- 
tions were  indulged  in,  against  those  who  had  pro- 
duced the  painful  and  trying  state  of  the  so- 
ciety. The  object  was,  to  regain  consistent 
order  and  harmony,  in  transacting  the  business  of 
our  religious  society,  and  not  to  extend  censure  to 
the  orthodox  members,  or  to  deprive  them  of 
any  privileges  which  they  held  in  common  with 
their  brethren. 


32 


250 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CASES  RESULTING  FROM  THE  RE-ORGANIZATION 
OF  THE  YEARLY  MEETING  OF  FRIENDS  HELD 
IN   PHILADELPHIA. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing in  the  4th  month  last,  attended  the  opening 
of  Philadelphia  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  on 
the  5th  of  8th  month,  at  Cherry  street  meeting- 
house, which  was  composed  of  Radnor,  Green 
street,  and  Philadelphia  Monthly  Meetings,* 
and  was  large  and  satisfactory,  many  minds  be- 
ing humbled  under  a  sense  of  the  superintend- . 
ing  care  of  the  Head  of  the  church  in  thus 
opening  a  way  for  rebuilding  the  waste  places, 
and  restoring  all  the  branches  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  to  their  regular  operation. 

The  full  re- organization  of  Philadelphia  Yearly 
Meeting  in  all  its  branches,  within  the  short 
period  of  sixteen  months,  notwithstanding  the 
exertions  of  the  orthodox  members  to  oppose  it, 

*  The  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Roaring  Creek,  became  a 
branch  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  in  11th  month  following. 


251 


has  greatly  exceeded  the  expectations  of  Friends, 
and  induces  many  to  say:  "This  is  the  Lord's 
doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes." 

As  the  orthodox  brethren  dispute  the  legality 
of  the  re-organization  of  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
and  predicate  upon  this  ground  the  propriety  of 
their  attempts  to  disown  and  deprive  the  greater 
part  of  the  society  of  all  right  in  its  property,  it 
may  be  useful  a  little  further  to  examine  this 
subject. 

In  joining  issue  with  objectors  on  the  ground 
of  legal  order,  does  it  not  appear  that  the  ortho- 
dox party  were  the  aggressors? — The  professedly 
most  free  and  liberal  deliberative  body  on  earth 
was  interrupted  in  its  progress,  by  a  clerk, 
as  the  organ  of  that  party,  assuming  the  direc- 
tion of  its  business  in  opposition  to  the  general 
sense  of  the  body,  and  the  meeting  was  thereby 
rendered  incompetent  to  adjust  the  difficulties 
and  redress  the  grievances  of  the  Quarterly 
Meetings,  brought  before  it.  Placed  in  this 
predicament,  what  was  the  proper  duty  of  the 
representatives,  and  other  concerned  Friends? 
Would  it  have  been  proper  or  necessary  to  sur- 
render the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  society 
into  the  hands  of  self-important  individuals  who 
had  no  more  right  than  others?  In  this  case  the 
constitutional  powers  of  the  Yearly  Meeting 
would  have  been  turned  backward  to  destroy  its 


252 

own  order.  Would  it  have  been  consistent  to 
have  contended  with  the  orthodox  party  in  their 
own  temper  and  spirit?  What  then  would  have 
become  of  the  peaceable  testimony  of  the  society! 
Taking  into  view  the  duties  of  the  representa- 
tives and  other  Friends,  as  religious  men  desirous 
to  maintain  the  order  and  consistency  of  the  so- 
ciety, there  was,  under  all  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  no  other  course  left  than  to  re-organize 
the  Yearly  Meeting  on  primitive  principles  and 
practice. 

This  was  not  rashly  and  immediately  done; 
but  with  that  caution  and  deliberation  which 
have  always  been  a  distinguishing  characteristic 
in  the  proceedings  of  the  society,  the  larger  part 
of  the  representatives,  in  conference  with  other 
concerned  Friends,  seriously  and  solemnly  ad- 
dressed the  whole  Yearly  Meeting  on  the  actual 
state  of  things.  There  could  be  no  party  design 
nor  over- reaching  in  this  deliberate  step,  for  the 
body  at  large  was  invited  to  consider  and  judge 
for  itself,  and  at  an  appointed  future  time,  to 
express  its  judgment  and  will.  As  Friends  had 
adopted  no  new  views  either  in  doctrine  or  prac- 
tice, the  deliberate  will  of  the  body  was,  to  re- 
sume the  exercise  of  its  unalienable  rights  and 
accustomed  relations. 

The  holding  of  an  extra  session  of  the  Yearly 


253 


Meeting  in  the  10th  month,  was  ultimately  appro- 
ved and  sanctioned  by  all  the  Quarters,  in  their 
regular  and  deliberate  capacity,  except  Philadel- 
phia, a  large  proportion  of  the  members  of  which 
were  previously  connected  with  Abington.  Where 
then  is  the  ground  for  the  allegation,  that  the  re- 
organization of  the  Yearly  Meeting  was  illegal, 
and  that  it  is  not  the  society  of  Friends?  What 
is  the  actual  state  in  point  of  feeling  and  choice, 
of  the  members  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  large 
on  this  question? 

By  authentic  information  from  the  different 
Quarters  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  it  appears  that 
there  are  about  five  Friends  to  one  orthodox 
member;  and  it  is,  moreover,  well  known,  that  a 
considerable  number  of  families  and  individuals 
still  adhering,  through  indecision  of  mind  and 
other  causes,  to  the  orthodox  ranks,  do  not  cor- 
dially approve  of  their  past  proceedings  nor  pre- 
sent policy.  The  real  number  of  individuals 
settled  in  the  principles  and  pretensions  of  the 
orthodox  party  is  believed  to  be  very  small.  It 
has  already  been  stated,  from  an  intimate  know- 
ledge of  the  progress  of  the  party,  that  four  or 
live  individuals  have  been  the  prime  movers,  and 
remain  to  be  the  principal  directors  of  those 
measures  which  have  separated  them  and  their 
adherents  from  the  unity  of  Friends.     But  ad- 


254 


mitting  that  all  who  adhere  to  the  orthodox  party 
were  decided  and  settled  in  their  choice,  there 
would  be  about  twenty  thousand  Friends  to  four 
thousand  orthodox  members  in  Philadelphia  Year- 
ly Meeting.  If  then  each  part  has  had  a  deliberate 
choice  for  itself,  it  cannot  be  difficult  to  decide 
which  is  legally  entitled  to  be  the  society.  The 
orthodox  party,  by  their  own  choice  and  measures, 
have  placed  themselves  in  the  situation  of  a  small 
fractional  minority.  Is  it  reasonable  or  just  that 
this  fractional  part  should  assume  the  attributes  of 
the  society,  and  defraud  the  body  not  only  of  its 
name  but  of  its  property?  With  equal  propriety 
and  justice  the  small  fractional  part  of  American 
citizens,  who,  during  the  revolution,  under  the 
name  of  royalists,  adhered  to  the  British  interest, 
might  have  said  that  they  were  in  fact  solely  the 
American  people,  and  that  the  general  popula- 
tion of  the  United  States  was  nothing  but  a  ban- 
ditti, the  refuse  of  all  other  nations,  and  that  they 
being  the  faithful  subjects  of  the  king,  were  en- 
titled to  the  revenues  of  the  country. 

But  to  take  a  closer  view  of  the  subject,  it  is 
distinctly  known  that  all  the  Quarters  composing 
the  Yearly  Meeting  retained  their  position,  and 
continue  in  the  occupancy  of  Friends,  with  the 
exception  of  Philadelphia  Quarter.  With  this 
single  exception,  all  these  component  parts  of 


255 

the  Yearly  Meeting,  in  their  official  capacity  as 
Quarterly  Meetings,  chose  to  be  free  and  remain 
in  the  exercise  of  their  just  rights.  In  this  choice 
and  determination  of  the  Quarterly  and  Monthly 
Meetings,  nothing  was  imposed  on  the  orthodox 
brethren.  In  fact  nothing  new  was  adopted  or 
practised.  The  whole  amount  of  the  determina- 
tion of  Friends  in  their  respective  regular  meet- 
ings was,  we  will  not  surrender  our  religious 
liberties  and  the  liberties  of  our  children  into  the 
hands  of  a  few  assuming  brethren.  We  neither 
ask  nor  take  any  thing  from  them  as  members  of 
the  society,  but  in  the  exercise  of  our  christian 
duties  we  invite  them  to  a  participation  of  our 
common  privileges.  The  orthodox  party  were 
not  willing  to  be  reduced  to  their  just  level,  or 
mingle  on  the  ground  of  equality  in  the  ranks  of 
their  brethren,  but  dissented  in  the  Quarterly 
and  Monthly  Meetings  from  the  unity  of  the 
body;  and  rather  than  be  satisfied  with  an  equal 
voice  in  the  government  of  the  society,  they  set 
up  separate  meetings  for  discipline,  that  they 
might  maintain  a  show  of  power  or  supremacy 
over  their  brethren. 

In  many  instances  the  dissenting  members  from 
the  regular  meetings  were  few  in  number  and 
had  no  other  ground  to  stand  on  in  their  separate 
capacity  than  their  own  will,  nor  any  other  sane- 


256 


tion  from  the  society  than  the  influence  and  di- 
rection of  the  self- nominated  committee  already 
alluded  to,  whose  object  was  to  maintain  a  party 
to  support  them  in  their  disorderly  pretensions. 
This  committee  could  give  no  other  power  than 
they  possessed.     All  their  power  consisted  in 
assumption.     They  were  an  association  of  indi- 
viduals, and  possessed  no  other  power  than  indi- 
vidual right  of  opinion.     That  opinion  was  re- 
jected by  the  regular  meetings,  and  of  course 
went  for  nothing.   Withdrawing  from  these  meet- 
ings with  those  they  could  influence  to  follow 
them,  was  a  direct  infraction  of  order,  and  a 
visible  act  of  insubordination  to  the  will  of  the 
body.     Of  course  these  separate  meetings  have 
nothing  to  rest  on  but  the  opinion  or  will  of  those 
individuals  who  constitute  them.      They  have 
violated  their  legal  connexion  with  the  society  of 
Friends.  They  have  dissented  from  that  society, 
and  cannot  reasonably  exercise  any  of  its  func- 
tions.    They  occupy  the  ground  of  their  own 
choice,  and  are  entitled  to  all  the  enjoyments  with- 
in their  reach,  but  have  no  authority  to  interfere 
with  others  in  the  exercise  of  equal  rights  and 
enjoyments.     The  pretensions  of  the  orthodox 
meetings  in  undertaking  to  disown  Friends,  have 
no  other  foundation  than  their  own  will.     Having 
voluntarily  burst  the  bond  of  religious  union, 


23: 


they  can  have  no  human  nor  legal  right  to  inter- 
rupt the  enjoyment  of  Friends  who  are  embodied 
in  their  regular  meetings  according  to  the  accus- 
tomed operations  of  the  society. 

If  the  orthodox  party  have  outwitted  them- 
selves, and  by  their  own  measures  lost  all  claim 
upon  the  society,  according  to  the  principles  of 
human  or  legal  association;  they  appear  also  to 
have  forfeited  the  weight  of  spiritual  sanction  in 
regard  to  their  disciplinary  proceedings  against 
Friends.  It  has  been  a  received  principle  of 
action  in  the  society,  that  the  discipline  should 
be  administered  u  in  the  peaceable  spirit  and 
wisdom  of  Jesus,"  for  the  restoration  of  offenders, 
and  not  as  an  instrument  to  destroy  and  cut  off. 
Will  the  active  agents  of  orthodox  zeal  say  that 
they  are  under  the  influence  and  direction  of 
the  gospel  spirit  in  obtruding  their  formal  notifi- 
cations of  unfounded  and  libellous  charges  against 
their  innocent  and  upright  neighbours,  and  in 
undertaking,  after  a  round'of  visits  equally  formal 
and  impertinent,  to  excommunicate  whole  meet- 
ings. If  they  have  neither  human  right  nor 
spiritual  sanction  for  such  procedure,  their  prac- 
tice seems  to  approach  to  a  very  daring  pre- 
sumption, and  will  be  felt  in  all  its  weight,  when 
the  query  comes  to  be  raised  in  their  minds,  who 
has  required  this  at  your  hands? 
33 


258 


Orthodox  members  in  the  country,  while  en- 
gaged in  carrying  on  their  system  of  disownment, 
have  acknowledged  that  they  were  directed  to 
do  so  by  the  leaders  of  the  party  in  Philadelphia, 
as  a  preliminary  step  to  obtain  the  property  of 
the  society.     Truly  a  righteous  cause! — to  divest 
twenty  thousand  of  their  fellow-members  of  their 
religious  and  civil  rights  whilst  living,  and  deny 
them  the  right  of  interment  when  dead!  How 
dreadful  is  the  exterminating  spirit  of  orthodoxy. 
The  most  hostile  belligerants  will  suspend  the 
desolations  of  war  to  bury  their  dead,  and  mingle 
sympathies  over  the  graves  of  their  compatriots; 
but  the  corroding  irritation  of  religious  prejudice 
withers  every  sensibility  of  the  human  heart. 

The  claim  of  the  orthodox  party  to  the  pro- 
perty of  the  society  of  Friends  is  not  a  conjec- 
ture or  surmise.  Their  motto  on  this  suject  is  "all 
or  none."  Their  actual  proceedings  in  relation 
to  the  Asylum  for  the  relief  of  persons  deprived  of 
the  use  of  their  reason;  and  the  prosecutions 
brought  against  Friends  with  the  view  of  depri- 
ving them  of  the  equal  use  of  the  burial  grounds 
in  this  city,  show  beyond  all  doubt  that  their 
disposition  to  engross  the  rights  and  pro- 
perty of  the  society  is  only  limited  by  their 
power. 

The  association  of  the  contributors  to  the  Asy- 


259 


lura  for  the  relief  of  persons  deprived  of  the  use 
of  their  reason,  was  formed  a  few  years  ago,  and 
went  into  operation  on  its  own  private  funds, 
which  form  a  property  distinct  from  any  other  of 
the  society.  The  estate  of  the  contributors  for 
the  purposes  of  the  institution,  is  held  in  trust  by 
twelve  of  the  members  appointed  at  an  annual 
or  special  meeting,  and  the  object  of  the  associa- 
tion is  carried  into  effect  by  a  board  of  twenty 
managers,  a  treasurer  and  clerk,  who  are  chosen 
annually  from  amongst  the  contributors.  (i  Any 
Monthly  Meeting  belonging  to  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Friends  of  Philadelphia,  contributing  two 
hundred  dollars,  may  appoint  an  agent  who  may 
appear  and  act  at  the  meetings  of  the  association 
on  their  behalf,  and  may  recommend  one  poor 
patient  at  one  time  on  the  lowest  terms  of  admis- 
sion; and  every  individual  subscribing  six  dol- 
lars per  annum,  or  twenty-five  dollars  at  one 
time,  and  being  and  continuing  members  of  the 
religious  society  of  Friends,  are  considered  mem- 
bers of  the  association;  and  those  paying  twenty- 
five  dollars  in  one  payment  may  recommend  one 
poor  patient  at  one  time  on  the  lowest  terms  of 
admission." 

Previous  to  the  annual  meeting  of  the  contri- 
butors in  the  third  month,  1828,  great  pains  were 
taken  to  induce  the  clerk  to  notify  only  the  ortho- 


260 


dox  party.  A  majority  of  the  contributors  being 
Friends,  it  was  determined  to  deprive  them  of 
their  rights.  The  clerk  however  would  not  in 
any  way  conspire  to  deprive  his  fellow-members 
of  their  rights  and  interests  in  the  institution,  but 
notified  all  the  members  on  his  list  according  to 
usual  practice.  To  aid  the  design  of  depriving 
Friends  of  their  rights  in  the  association  the  or- 
thodox managers  obtained  a  legal  opinion  to  cover 
their  attempt.  This  opinion  is  predicated  on 
the  presumption  that  the  constitutional  powers, 
functions,  and  attributes  of  Philadelphia  Yearly 
Meeting  are  concentred  and  vested  in  the  ortho- 
dox party.  Take  away  this  foundation  and  all 
the  details  of  legal  argument  fall  to  the  ground. 
So  far  are  the  orthodox  party  from  being  the- 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  that  they  are  only  a 
minority  of  that  body,  and  have  in  fact  separated 
themselves  from  it  by  promoting  measures  oppo- 
sed to  the  general  voice  of  the  Yearly  Meeting 
at  large.  In  proof  of  this  fact  we  need  only  refer  to 
the  report  of  the  orthodox  appointed  as  managers 
last  spring,  in  which  is  a  list  of  new  agents  for 
Monthly  Meetings,  fourteen  of  which  have  been 
set  up,  in  opposition  to  the  long  established  and 
regular  Monthly  Meetings,  by  a  very  few  fami- 
lies who  have  seceded  from  the  judgment  and 


261 

will  of  their  respective  meetings.*  These  op- 
position meetings,  as  we  have  seen,  have  no  other 
sanction  than  the  mere  will  of  the  orthodox 
themselves,  which  cannot  he  hinding  on  the 
Yearly  meeting,  nor  affect  the  rights  and  inter- 
ests of  its  members.  The  orthodox  party  in  the 
sovereignty  of  their  will  profess  to  have  laid  down 
Byberry  and  Horsham  Monthly  Meetings,  al- 
though it  is  well  known  that  there  are  only  three 
or  four  families  who  have  seceded  from  the  form- 
er, and  very  few  from  the  latter,  and  hence  they 
pretend  that  the  rights  of  these  Monthly  Meet- 
ings, in  the  association  of  contributors,  are 
by  the  mere  dicta  of  orthodoxy  extinguished,  or 
transferred  to  the  few  families  who  have  seceded 
from  them. 

The  whole  of  the  families  in  the  fourteen  se- 
parated meetings  which  have  appointed  new 
agents,  do  not  probably  amount  altogether  to  more 
than  the  number  of  families  in  Byberry  and  Hors- 
ham regular  Monthly  Meetings,  which  are  said 
to  be  laid  down,  yet  on  account  of  this  small 
number  of  persons,  fourteen  regular  Monthly 
Meetings  are  attempted  to  be  deprived  by  the 
orthodox  party  of  their  just  rights  and  agency  in 
the  association  To  ensure  the  fulfilment  of  this 
intention,  at  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  con- 

*  See  the  Annual  Report  of  the  orthodox  managers,  for  1828. 


262 


tributors,  a  list  of  seventy-six  contributors,  aH  of 
the  orthodox  party,  was  laid  on  the  table  with 
the  design  of  adding  them  to  the  list  of  members, 
in  order  to  ensure  a  majority  of  orthodox,  and 
accordingly  control  the  proceedings  of  the  meet- 
ing. 

Of  these  new  contributors  it  is  known  that 
some,  and  it  is  believed  not  a  few,  were  made 
such  without  expense  or  any  particular  agency 
of  their  own,  further  than  their  simple  consent  to 
meet  in  that  capacity  at  the  appointed  time,  and 
exercise  the  functions  of  contributors! 

The  clerk  apprehending  this  measure  was  un- 
precedented and  unfair,  declined  to  accept  of  this 
list,  and  the  determination  of  the  orthodox  to 
force  it  upon  the  association,  causing  considerable 
disorder  and  confusion,  he  thought  best  to  ad- 
journ the  meeting,  and  having  read  a  minute 
accordingly,  retired;  Friends  generally  retiring 
also. 

After  the  clerk  withdrew,  the  orthodox  party 
pursued  their  own  exclusive  measures,  which 
being  entirely  of  a  party  character  cannot  in 
justice  be  binding  on  the  association,  nor  affect 
the  rights  of  contributors.  From  a  review  of 
this  transaction  every  one  will  draw  his  own 
conclusion.  It  certainly  exhibited  a  degree  of 
political  manoeuvering  which  ill    accords  with 


263 


those  maxims  of  moral  equity  which  the  society 
of  Friends  has  always  strenuously  inculcated, 
and  exemplified  in  all  its  public  transactions. 
Were  such  proceedings  to  obtain  legal  sanction 
and  become  binding,  no  institution  in  the  com- 
munity, embracing  joint  interests,  would  be  safe. 
It  is  difficult  to  conceive  upon  what  religious, 
moral,  or  civil  principle,  the  orthodox  party 
ground  their  exclusive  claim  to  the  property  of 
the  society,  when  we  take  into  view  their  relative 
numbers  throughout  the  Yearly  Meeting.  How 
can  one  right  extinguish  or  absorb  five  equal 
rights?  One  says  to  five,  you  are  unsound  in  the 
faith,  I  therefore  disown  you  and  take  your  share 
of  the  property.  But  where  is  the  evidence  of 
this  unsoundness?  No  new  declaration  of  faith  has 
been  made.  It  is  not  necessary  any  should  be 
made.  What  right  has  one,  under  equal  circum- 
stances, to  interfere  with  or  demand  of  the  five  a 
declaration  of  their  faith?  May  they  not  justly 
retort  upon  the  one,  and  demand  his  right  and 
authority  for  such  an  unreasonable  assumption  in 
claiming  to  lord  over  their  consciences,  seeing  he 
is  in  respect  to  right  and  liberty  of  conscience  on 
a  level  with  each  of  themselves.  Will  the  un- 
founded charges  of  one  against  the  five  take  from 
the  rights  of  the  latter  or  add  to  the  right  of  the 
former?  Does  not  the  very  attempt  of  the  one 


264 

involve  him  in  just  censure,  leaving  the  five  to 
hold  the  even  tenor  of  their  way  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  their  legal  rights? 

It  is  probable  the  love  of  power  which  so  often 
prevails  over  both  the  understanding  and  affec- 
tions of  the  human  mind,  superinduces  the  leaders 
of  the  orthodox  party  to  maintain  their  claim  to 
the  property  of  the  society  of  Friends.  Perhaps 
they  apprehend  that  their  importance  as  indivi- 
duals, and  even  their  existence  as  a  distinct  body 
depend  upon  the  establishment  of  their  title  to 
the  property  of  the  society.  An  inordinate  self- 
love,  however,  will  not  justify  dereliction  from 
principle,  nor  sanction  the  invasion  of  the  rights 
and  enjoyments  of  others.  Because  these  ortho- 
dox leaders  have  forgot  their  own  standing,  and 
by  different  causes  and  various  means,  have  assu- 
med a  position  to  demand  the  unconditional  con- 
trol of  the  society,  are  they  entitled  not  only  to 
the  high  consideration  and  submissive  obedience 
of  their  fellow  members,  equal  in  rights  with 
themselves,  but  also  to  all  the  rights,  functions, 
and  property  of  the  society?  Have  these  men 
any  valid  right  to  say  to  the  society,  if  you  will 
not  quietly  follow  our  direction,  we  in  our  wis- 
dom and  power  will  deprive  you  of  your  accus- 
tomed religious  rights  and  of  all  interest  in  your 
property  as  a  religious  body;  we  will  take  away 


265 


your  name  amongst  men,  cast  you  out  when  dead, 
and  repress  the  ex  tendings  of  every  mercy  to- 
wards you?  Such  is  the  formidable  attitude  the 
proceedings  of  the  leading  orthodox  brethren 
present  to  the  society  of  Friends. 

The  prosecutions  instituted  against  Friends 
respecting  the  burial  ground  are  before  the  pub- 
lic and  speak  for  themselves.  The  active  leaders 
of  the  orthodox  party,  having  of  their  own  mere 
motion  laid  down  Green  street  Monthly  Meeting 
on  paper,  conceived  the  design  of  sanctioning 
their  unwarrantable  attempt  by  shutting  the 
gates  of  the  burial  ground  against  the  members  of 
that  meeting,  which  had  an  equal  joint  right  in 
the  property  with  the  other  four  Monthly  Meet- 
ings in  the  city.  Green  street  Monthly  Meet- 
ing being  satisfied  it  had  done  nothing  to  invali- 
date its  religious  rights,  and  that  no  disciplinary 
process,  even  if  it  had,  could  interfere  with  civil 
liberty  nor  the  holding  or  use  of  property,  in  the 
proper  exercise  of  that  liberty  continued  to  use 
the  burying  ground  upon  the  same  principle  and 
in  the  same  manner  as  usual.  The  orthodox 
party,  pretending  to  exclusive  possession  of  the 
burial  ground,  denied  the  authority  of  Green 
street  Monthly  Meeting  to  grant  orders  for  inter- 
ment, and  directed  the  care-taker  to  refuse  them 
admission. 

34 


266 


"Up  ayoM  the  unpleasant  necessity  of  remov- 
ing the  lock  from  the  gate  whenever  an  interment 
was  to  take  place,  Green  street  Monthly  Meet- 
ing appointed  a  committee  to  make  application  to 
the  trustees,  five  of  whom  gave  permission  to 
erect  a  gate  in  the  western  wall  of  the  burying 
ground  as  follows: 

"We  concur  in   the  request  made  by  the 
committee  named  in  the  minute  from  the  Month- 
ly Meeting  of  Friends  of  Green  street  for  erect- 
ing a  gate  in  the  wall  of  the  burial  ground  on 
Cherry  street,  and  if  necessary  to  erect  a  house 
thereon  for  a  tenantj  or  to  take  any  other  mea- 
sure that  may  secure  to  that  meeting  the  right  of 
interment,  in  conformity  with  the  deed  of  trust 
recognising  a   common   right    with    the   other 
Monthly  Meetings  in  Philadelphia;  it  being  un- 
derstood that  the  Friends  of  all  the  other  meet- 
ings shall  enjoy  the  privilege  of  entrance  equally 
With  Friends  of  Green  street. 
William  Yardley,     William  Abbott. 
Benjamin  Tucker,       James  Martin. 
Gabriel  Middleton, 
5th  mo.  23d,  1828." 
The  object  of  the  erection  of  this  gate  was  to 
avoid  all  collision  with  the  orthodox  party,  and 
for  the  common  convenience  of  all  concerned,  in 
the  fulfilment  of  their  duties  and  the  enjoyment 


267 


of  their  rights.  Whilst  the  i&nprovement  was 
accomplishing  in  the  most  regular  and  orderly 
manner,  the  orthodox  party  contrived  to  bring 
an  action  against  the  persons  employed  in  the 
work  for  a  breach  of  the  peace,  in  the  same  way 
that  Friends  at  their  first  rise  were  prosecuted 
for  holding  meetings  or  travelling  from  pla^e  to 
place. 

The  joint  occupancy  of  the  burial  ground  by 
Green  street  Monthly  Meeting,  according  to 
the  design  of  the  original  purchase,  was  as 
much  a  right  and  as  much  in  the  line  of  their 
duty,  as  the  occupancy  of  the  meeting-house 
for  religious  worship;  yet  the  persons  employ- 
ed by  that  meeting  to  erect  a  gate  in  the  west- 
ern wall  of  the  burial  ground,  for  the  quiet 
and  peaceable  accommodation  of  its  members, 
were  sued  for  a  breach  of  the  peace,  upon  the 
affirmation  of  Jeremiah  Willets,  a  member  of  the 
Northern  District  Meeting,  who  upon  examina- 
tion declined  being  considered  as  the  prosecutor, 
but  admitted  he  had  been  in  compamy  at  the 
office  of  Horace  Binney,  (one  of  the  attorneys 
engaged  by  the  party,)  with  Thomas  Wistar, 
Thomas  Stewardson,  Thomas  P.  Oope,  Israel 
Cope  and  Charles  Allen,  when,  it  would  seem,  a 
consultation  was  held  on  the  subject. 

Upon  the  information  set  forth  in  the  voluntary 
affirmation  of  Jeremiah  Willets,  Joseph  Wafcsoj^ 


263 

the  mayor,  issued  a  warrant  against  Joseph  Lu- 
kens,  Edmund  Shotwell,  Charles  Middleton,  and 
two  coloured  men,  employed  in  the  erection  of 
the  gate,  who  appeared  before  him  at  his  office, 
on  the    Fourth   of  the    Sixth  month;    and  al- 
though the  informant,  and  those  who  acted  with 
him  on  behalf  of  the  prosecution,  failed  to  sub- 
stantiate the  charge  of  a  breach  of  the  peace,  the 
mayor  ordered  Edmund  Shotwell,  Joseph  Lu- 
kens,  and  Charles  Middleton,  to  enter  into  their 
own  recognizance,  in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars each;  and  the  two  coloured  men  to  enter  into 
their  own  recognizance,  each  in  the  sum  of  twenty 
dollars,  and  one  surety  in  the  like  sum,  to  keep 
the  peace.     As  they  had  not  broken  the  peace, 
they  considered  the  requisition  in  the  same  light 
that  George  Fox  did  when,  in  answering  to  the 
ensnaring  Justices  of  his  day,  he  declared,   he 
was  an  innocent  man,  and  knew  of  no  law  he  had 
broken,  and  could  not  make  any  acknowledgment 
of  guilt  by  giving  surety  for  good  behaviour. 
The  defendants  in  this  case  with  similar  feelings 
promptly  refused  compliance,  and  were  all  com- 
mitted by  the  mayor  to  the  common  jail. 

This  commitment  produced  considerable  sen- 
sation amongst  Friends  and  others.  It  was 
thought  where  the  evidence  failed  to  sustain  the 
charge  the  accused  ought  at  least  to  have  gone 
free,  if  not  have  had  indemnity  awarded  for  false 


accusation.  It  forcibly  called  to  recollection  the 
procedure  of  those  magistrates  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  who,  when  they  could  not  convict 
Friends  of  the  breach  of  any  law,  tendered  them 
the  oath  of  allegiance  that  they  might  obtain  a 
pretext  to  send  them  to  prison.  The  defenders 
of  this  measure,  ground  its  justification  on  a  dis- 
cretionary power,  and  not  upon  any  rule  of  law. 
But  if  the  prevention  of  a  possible  collision  of 
the  parties,  endangering  the  public  peace,  was 
the  rule  of  action,  why  not  bind  over  the  one 
party  as  well  as  the  other,  seeing  they  were  in 
possession  of  equal  rights,  and  equally  entitled  to 
the  protection  and  guarrantee  of  law?  Why  was 
one  party  in  this  cause  permitted  to  recline  be- 
hind the  curtain,  whilst  the  hands  of  the  other 
was  attempted  to  be  tied,  in  order  to  bar  the 
occupancy  of  their  joint  and  equatl  rights? 

The  plea  of  discretionary  power  is  not  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  spirit  and  institutions  of  this 
government,  nor  indeed  with  any  other  laying 
claim  to  moral  equity.  Lord  Camden,  the  first 
law  authority  in  England,  has  said  that ;  discretion 
is  the  law  of  tyrants;  in  the  best  men  it  is  caprice, 
in  the  worst  it  is  every  folly,  vice  and  infirmity, 
to  which  human  nature  is  liable.'  Legal  discre- 
tion is  not  the  arbitrary  discretion  of  the  judge. 
It  is  well  defined  by  Lord  Coke.    "  To  discover 


270 

through  the  medium  of  the  law  that  which  is  just 
and  proper."  a  Judges  must  determine  not  by 
the  crooked  cord  of  discretion,  but  by  the  golden 
met-wand  of  the  law." 

ii  If  the  magistrate  of  any  country  makes  sup- 
posed principles  and  not  actions  the  object  of 
coercion;  if  upon  his  own  loose  constructions  and 
speculations  of  danger,  he  commits  outrage  under 
pretence  of  preventing  it;  if  instead  of  arguing 
from  the  consequence  to  the  principle,  he  inverts 
every  rule  of  right  reason,  and  infer  the  conse- 
quence from  what  he  thinks  proper  to  adjudge 
the  principle,  the  safety  and  freedom  of  human 
action  is  at  an  end.  In  such  a  case  the  magistrate 
takes  upon  himself  to  determine  that  which  is  un- 
determinable; to  mark  as  an  object  of  punishment 
not  a  present  and  actual,  but  a  future,  possible, 
and  contingent  consequence;  and  by  punishing 
motives  which  have  not  displayed  their  qualities 
by  their  effects,  to  arrogate  to  his  own  limited 
and  short  sighted  capacity  a  privilege  which  be- 
longs only  to  Eternal  Omniscience." 

After  five  days  detention  in  the  common  jail, 
the  prisoners,  Joseph  Lukens,  Edmund  Shotwell, 
Charles  Middleton,  and  the  two  coloured  men, 
were  brought  up  by  habeas  corpus  before  Judge 
King,  who  after  a  full  investigation  of  the  cause 
of  commitment,  discharged  them. 


271 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

CONCLUSION EMBRACING   A    CONDENSED     SUM- 
MARY  OF   THE    WHOLE. 

Having  reviewed  the  declensions  and  disor- 
ders which  have  marked  the  progress  of  the 
visible  church  through  ages  that  are  past,  it  is 
cordial  to  recur  to  the  purity,  simplicity,  and 
efficiency  of  fundamental  christian  principle, 
which,  through  all  the  changes  of  time,  remains 
as  immutable  and  permanent  as  the  attributes  of 
the  Divine  nature. 

Whatever  was  essential  to  the  subsistence, 
comfort,  and  enjoyment  of  animal  life,  such  as 
air,  light,  earth,  and  water,  has  been  freely 
furnished  for  the  benefit  of  all  by  the  bountiful 
Creator.  In  like  manner  whatever  means  are 
requisite  for  the  development,  proper  direction, 
and  lasting  enjoy meut  of  intellectual  life,  are 
freely  and  universally  dispensed  to  all  mankind. 
All  the  human  family  are  originally  and  essen- 
tially the  same  on  the  scale  of  being,  and  are 
equally  objects  of  the  bounty  and  gifts  of  the 


272" 

Creator,  Preserver,  and  Redeemer  of  men.  The 
principle  of  saving  light  and  grace  is  universally 
adapted  to  the  whole  of  mankind  in  every  age, 
and  wherever  any  embrace  and  obey  this  princi- 
ple, it  will  produce  devotional  feelings  to  God, 
and  righteousness  and  peace  to  men. 

To  realize  the  virtue  of  spiritual  feeling,  and 
the  essence  of  true  piety,  it  is  not  necessary 
that  all  its  subjects  should  adopt  the  same  set 
of  opinions,  or  the  same  external  mode  of  wor- 
ship. The  inhabitants  of  different  parts  of  the 
globe  speak  in  different  languages;  they  breathe 
different  atmospheres;  they  are  surrounded  by 
different  objects  and  scenery;  they  cultivate  the 
soil  differently,  according  to  the  nature  of  its  pro- 
ducts; they  subsist  on  different  kinds  of  nourish- 
ment, and  why  may  not  their  devotional  feelings 
be  differently  manifested,  and  their  religious 
worship  through  different  forms  be  acceptable  to 
the  Universal  Father  of  man. 

Genuine  devotion  is  the  offspring  of  the  effu- 
sions of  the  divine  spirit  in  the  heart  of  man, 
and  can  only  subsist  by  keeping  a  communication 
open  with  the  fountain  of  Divine  goodness  which 
freely  flows  to  all  without  exception,  for  their 
preservation  from  evil,  and  for  the  proper  di- 
rection of  their  lives.  All  real  religion  con- 
sists in  true  devotion.      It   is  the   product  of 


273 


Divine  grace  in  the  heart  of  man,  bringing  fovth 
its  fruits  in  practice,  and  which  form  the  source 
^-.d  stream  of  christian  piety,  which  flowing 
fro:  the  same  source  in  whatever  direction 
they  may  diverge,  will  ultimately  unite  in  in- 
creasing the  comfort  and  enjoyment  of  the  hu- 
man family. 

The  result  of  the  economy  established  by 
Divine  wisdom  in  the  operation  of  fixed  and 
certain  principles,  will  invariably  answer  the 
intention  designed,  in  those  who  co-operate  with 
them.  But  a  deviation  from  those  principles, 
produces  a  violation  of  the  law  written  on  the 
heart,  and  opens  a  source  of  error,  and  a  path 
of  wandering  from  conscious  rectitude,  and  the 
peace  of  innocence.  Hence  the  emphatic  de- 
claration, "My  people  have  committed  two 
evils;  they  have  forsaken  me  the  fountain  of  liv- 
ing waters,  and  hewn  them  out  cisterns,  broken 
cisterns  that  can  hold  no  water."  When  the 
mind  of  man  turns  from  the  universal  principle 
of  spiritual  light,  goodness,  justice,  and  truth,  it 
must  of  necessity  fall  under  the  influence  and 
direction  of  that  selfish  spirit  which  is  produc- 
ed and  supported  by  mere  animal  sensation. 
The  unwise  exercise  of  that  liberty,  which  is 
a  concomitant  of  the  rational  nature,  and  the 
improper  direction  and    action   of  the  human 

35 


274 


mind  open  an  entrance  to  those  evils  which 
prove  u  the  fell  destroyer"  of  individual  com- 
fort, and  of  public  prosperity  and  happiness. 

The  prevalence  and  activity  of  a  selfish  spi- 
rit, comprising  the  wisdom  which  arises  from 
an  experimental  knowledge  of  visible  objects, 
laid  the  foundation  and  have  maintained  the  su- 
perstructure of  that  political  oppression  and 
religious  intolerance,  which,  in  past  ages,  turn- 
ed the  abodes  of  men  into  an  Aceldama,  or 
field  of  blood.  The  avarice  of  the  selfish  spirit 
of  man  hath  monopolized  whatever  is  tangible 
in  the  visible  world,  although  he  is  only  a  pas- 
senger through  time  in  common  with  multitudes 
of  generations  all  equally  entitled  to  the  boun- 
ties of  the  common  Creator.  As  it  is  not 
in  the  nature  of  visible  objects  to  satisfy  the 
principle  of  progressive  intelligence  in  the 
mind  of  man,  the  interests  of  religion  have  also 
been  laid  hold  upon  and  monopolized,  and  in  a 
variety  of  ways  subjected  to  a  systematic  organ- 
ization of  sale  and  barter,  that  particular  classes 
of  men  might  be  raised  to  an  official  importance 
in  society,  and  claim  the  enjoyments  of  polished 
life  at  the  expense  of  others. 

The  interference  of  civil  power  between  the 
soul  of  man  and  his  Creator  has  stained  the 
annals  of  every  country  with  the 'most  painful 


275 


results.  This  interference,  at  an  eauly  period 
of  human  society,  opened  a  source  of  compli- 
cated calamity  to  mankind,  under  which  most 
of  the  nations  of  the  earth  still  groan.  By  the 
illuminating  influence  and  progress  of  truth, 
this  dictatorial  and  presumptuous  spirit  has  lost 
much  of  its  power;  and  ultimately  all  legisla- 
tion on  the  religious  rights  of  man,  will  appear 
as  a  daring  impiety,  and  as  a  sacrilegious  attempt 
to  invade  the  Divine  sovereignty. 

Religious  intolerance  and  persecution,  in  all 
their  pretensions  and  modifications, rest  exclusive- 
ly on  the  selfish  principle,  which  in  every  age 
has  been  the  true  ground  of  assumed  ortho- 
doxy in  all  those  who  have  sought  to  enforce 
their  views,  and  subject  others  to  their  uncon- 
ditional control.  The  love  of  interest  and  pow- 
er brings  into  action  all  the  energies  of  the  self- 
ish principle,  which  darkens  the  understanding 
and  hardens  the  heart  of  man,  often  impelling 
him  to  the  commision  of  injustice  and  oppres- 
sion to  attain  the  realization  of  selfish  gratifica- 
tion. The  seMsh  principle,  in  its  progress  and 
activity,  uniformly  assumes  a  specious  appear- 
ance, either  of  zeal  for  the  public  welfare,  or  for 
the  promotion  of  superior  piety,  under  the  guise 
of  some  sectarian  dogma.  But  the  real  cause 
of  all  intolerance  and  unjust  domination  is  the 


276 

wrong  direction  of  the  human  mind,  by  which 
it  separates  itself  from  the  light  and  feeling  of 
truth.  It  is  not  so  much  the  embracing  parti- 
cular dogmas  that  leads  men  to  persecute,  as 
the  temperament  of  mind  upon  which  these 
dogmas  are  engrafted.  Persecution  is  a  conse- 
quence of  the  aberration  of  our  common  nature 
from  that  standard  of  immutable  truth  placed 
in  every  heart,  for  the  rule  of  its  actions.  In 
violating  the  law  of  justice  in  regard  to>  others, 
we  trample  over  it  in  ourselves.  The  oppressed 
may  be  innocent,  but  the  oppressor  must  be 
guilty.  What  responsibility  is  incurred,  in  at- 
tempting to  coerce  others  in  matters,  respecting 
which  their  independence  is  equal  to  our  own! 

The  society  of  Friends  in  its  first  rise,  bore 
ample  and  efficient  testimony  to  those  religious 
rights,  and  that  christian  liberty,  which  rest  on 
the  basis  of  immutable  truth;  and  it  is  cause  of 
deep  regret  that  in  the  present  day  those  rights 
and  this  liberty  should  have  been  invaded  by  any 
portion  of  the  society  in  regard  to  their  fellow 
professors.  The  attempt  by  a  few  individuals, 
to  monopolize  the  disciplinary  power  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  to  give  it  a  direction  for  promoting 
their  own  purposes,  without  regard  to  the  equal 
rights  of  their  brethren,  is  an  incontrovertible 
feet  which  cannot  be  removed  from  the  history 


277 


of  recent  transactions  within  the  limits  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting  held  in  Philadelphia. 

Without  particularizing  the  extraordinary 
proceedings  against  Elias  Hicks,  or  dwelling  on 
those  overbearing  measures  frequently  imposed 
upon  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings,  it  may 
be  asked,  what  else  but  a  monopoly  of  power, 
by  a  few  over  the  many,  were  the  transactions  at 
the  time  of  holding  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  the 
Fourth  month,  1827,  when  the  representatives 
were  interrupted  in  their  duty  of  nominating  a 
clerk,  and  an  individual  placed  in  that  charac- 
ter contrary  to  the  feelings  and  desire  of  the 
body  of  the  meeting?  What  else  but  a  monopoly 
of  power  was  the  nomination  of  the  self-constitu- 
ted committee  in  that  meeting,  to  go  down  to  the 
Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meetings,  to  over-awe 
or  constrain  them  to  act  conformably  to  the  man- 
dates of  assumed  orthodoxy?  Let  the  result  an- 
swer these  questions.  This  committee,  embra- 
cing the  principal  leaders  in  the  orthodox  party, 
was  rejected  by  nearly  all  the  Quarterly  and 
Monthly  Meetings,  as  having  no  official  power; 
and  those  meetings,  in  consequence  of  the  ortho- 
dox party  interrupting  the  regular  order  of  the 
society,  generally  agreed  to  re- organize  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  on  original  principles  and  ac- 
cording to  former  practice. 


278 


The  attempt  of  the  orthodox  party  to  enforce 
their  exclusive  views,  in  the  different  meetings 
for  discipline  wherever  they  could  influence  or 
control  the  clerk,  was  the  immediate  cause  of 
producing  the  re -organization  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting.  How  far  the  reception  of  any  new 
religious  opinions  by  the  orthodox  members  ope- 
rated on  their  minds  to  induce  them  to  set  up  a 
claim  to  be  exclusively  the  society,  in  the  midst 
of  their  brethren  of  equal  right  and  unimpeacha- 
ble practice,  is  best  known  to  themselves. — 
Friends  have  not  called  in  question  the  right  of 
private  opinion.  Whatever  the  peculiar  views 
of  the  orthodox  brethren  may  be  on  particular 
doctrinal  subjects,  no  exception  has  been  taken 
against  them  on  this  account.  The  point  at  issue 
was,  the  assumption  and  exercise  of  undue  power. 
Controverted  opinions  have  been  left  by  Friends 
to  stand  or  fall  by  their  own  merit.  Nothing 
new  has  been  adopted  by  them.  They  adhere 
with  unshaken  confidence  to  the  fundamental 
principles  of  the  society;  and  endeavour,  through 
the  renewings  of  Divine  assistance,  to  maintain 
its  testimonies  and  practice. 

In  avoiding  collision  with  the  orthodox  party 
in  meetings  for  discipline,  which  formerly  were 
so  painful,  and  conducted  so  inconsistently  with 
the  character  of  religious  men,   Friends  have 


279 


been  governed  by  the  peaceable  principle  of 
truth;  and  have  not  detracted  from  any  right  of 
the  orthodox  members.  These  members  have 
been  left  to  their  own  choice,  as  far  as  respects 
themselves,  and  are  only  precluded,  by  the  re- 
organization of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  from  over- 
ruling and  imposing  on  their  brethren.  The 
charge  of  unsoundness  against  Friends,  so  perse- 
veringly  persisted  in  by  the  orthodox  leaders,  is 
without  any  real  foundation;  for  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  its  public  character  has  made  no  de- 
claration whatever  on  controverted  doctrinal 
points,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  generality  of 
the  members  are  averse  to  controversial  specula- 
tions. The  true  cause  of  this  charge  had  its 
origin  in  the  disappointment  of  those  individuals, 
who  have  attempted,  in  an  unprecedented  man- 
ner, to  impose  their  opinions  and  views  on  the 
society.  As  Friends  maintained  their  rights  and 
privileges  with  becoming  respect  and  firmness, 
the  orthodox  brethren  to  cover  their  own  arbi- 
trary proceedings  and  to  sustain  their  unreasona- 
ble and  unwarrantable  pretensions  to  be  exclu- 
sively the  society,  so  as  to  entitle  them  to  its  re- 
putation and  property,  boldly  preferred,  in  the 
fervour  of  their  active  zeal,  a  charge  of  unsound- 
ness against  the  principal  part  of  this  Yearly 
Meeting.     Disinterested  observers  must  revietv 


280 

with  astonishment  the  extraordinary  pretensions 
of  individuals,  who  by  a  course  of  their  own 
proceedings  separated  themselves  from  the  unity  _ 
of  the  general  body  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  and 
then  claimed  all  the  soundness,  power,  right,  and 
property  belonging  to  it!  Who  does  not  see  that 
such  pretensions  must  prove  as  futile,  as  they  are 
novel  and  inconsistent  with  every  principle  of 
religious  and  civil  society? 

It  is  not  believed  that  the  generality  of  those 
remaining  with  the  orthodox  party  approve  of 
those  intolerant  measures  which  have  caused  such 
painful  disorders  and  divisions,  or  that  they  are 
disposed  to  deprive  Friends  of  their  just  right 
and  interest  in  the  property  belonging  to  the 
society.  Various  causes  contribute  to  shut  up 
the  way  of  well  disposed  individuals,  and  retain 
them  in  bondage,  so  as  to  diminish  their  useful- 
ness and  comfort,  and  place  all  their  weight  in 
that  scale  which  tends  to  prolong  existing  diffi- 
culties, and  the  trials  of  Friends.  In  the  midst 
of  those  trials  to  which  Friends  have  been  and 
still' are  subjected  by  the  overbearing  pretensions 
of  individuals,  having  no  paramount  right  or 
power  over  other  members  of  the  society,  it  is 
cause  of  thankfulness  that  the  Yearly  Meeting 
of  Friends  held  in  Philadelphia  have  been  pre- 
served in   that    moderation,   consistency,   and 


v 


281 


charity  towards  their  opposers  which  become 
their  profession.  Friends  in  a  near  sympathy 
with  each  other  under  sufferings  from  the  re- 
proaches, accusations  and  injustice  of  those  who 
were  formerly  brethren,  have  been  enabled  to 
commit  their  cause  to  Him  who  judgeth  righte- 
ously, and  who  sees  the  ruling  motive  and  integ- 
rity of  every  heart,  and  can  ultimately  overrule 
these  events  for  the  spread  and  establishment  of 
truth  in  the  mind  of  man. 


FINIS, 


ERRATA. 

Page  32,  line  3  from  top,  for  'judgment  of  the  individuals,'read 
'judgment  of  individuals.' 
58,  line  16  from  top,  for  'dispersed  in  Judea,'  read   'dis» 
persed  of  Judah.' 

75,  line  2  from  bottom,  for 'Thomas  Turner/  read  'Joseph 

Turner.' 

79     line       from  top  for  'Walter  Mifflin,'  read  'Warner 

Mifflin.'  and  for  'John  Cogwill/  read  'John  Cowgill.' 

88,  lines  4  &  5  from  top,  for  '  in  Delaware,'  read  '  in  the 

state  of  Delaware.' 
98,  line  16  from  top,  for  '  1st  mo.  1827,'  read    '  12th  mo. 

1826.' 
104,  line  6  from  top,  for  '  (page     ,)'  in  some  copies,  read 
'(page  33,)' 


MmsBm 


